Author's Note:

[] Represent them speaking in Russian.

Hope you all enjoy this.

"You sure you're alright?" Kai called from the outside of the bathroom door, not having moved since Ray had sprang up from his sleep and fled in there.

Another sound of retching reached his ears, giving him his answer and he sighed apprehensively. The toilet flushed and then the tap turned on, feeling it was safe to enter he turned the knob and stepped inside. Ray was standing across the bathroom at the vanity, brushing his teeth feverishly, the toothpaste making him look rabid as it foamed around the corners of his mouth. Kai waited patiently until he was done, spitting the paste out and gurgling some water from the still running tap.

"Fine. Nerves…" Ray breathed, out having finished cleaning his mouth out, till his stomach contents no longer lingered on his tongue.

"You've been like this, for three days now." Kai sighed as he watched Ray fumble with his hair in the floor length mirror to his right.

"Stomach bug?" Ray shrugged.

"Maybe you should go see the doctor?" Kai cocked an eyebrow at him.

"No thanks… What do you want for breakfast? Big day today." Ray turned to him, smiling innocently at him.

"I can't eat." Kai sighed, shaking his head.

"Oh, I forgot. When's Bryan taking you again?"

"After breakfast." Kai started for the bathroom door, letting them both out into their guest bedroom. "Afterwards, we really need to go back home." Kai started as Ray went about the room gathering his clothes for the day, laying some out on the bed for Kai.

"I know…" Ray sighed, having thrown the clothes on the bed as he bit his bottom lip.

Bryan had been gracious enough to let them stay this long, he didn't have to worry about Rain missing school, since she was no longer going for the time being. Kai was able to keep working, using the office downstairs. Ray, he just didn't want to go yet, Kai had the place cleaned but the thoughts of it all still made Ray nervous. He didn't know how he'd react or worse, how Rain would react going back home.

So far, any leads on who the thugs may have been working for, were coming up blank and that didn't help settle his nerves. It meant they could be targeted again, and that was one thing he didn't need. Luckily, he had convinced Kai to stay another day, at least while he was in surgery. He also felt safer at Bryan's, since Mariah was supposed to be coming over for the day. He knew she wouldn't try anything with him around, and maybe they'd get some information out of her about the attack.

The two dressed quietly, Kai keeping a stern eye on Ray all the while. Something wasn't right, he could feel it just by looking at him. Though, it was clear Ray was trying to hide it from him, which only spurred his curiosity more. It wasn't like he could beat it out of him though, all he could do was watch him carefully.

They gathered Rain from her spare room and ushered down to the first floor for breakfast, meeting Bryan on the stairs halfway since he too had just woken up. The descent down the final flight was quiet, once reaching the white tiled floors, Ray practically ran to the fridge digging in it to make something. The others took seats around the bar that faced the kitchen, Rain busy drawing on a pad of paper she had snatched from her back pack to keep busy. While Kai and Bryan slipped into idle chatter, in Russian.

["Can you keep an eye on him?"] Kai asked, motioning with his head towards Ray across from them at the head of the stove, that sat in the middle of the kitchen.

["What's wrong with him now?"] Bryan asked, making sure not to look to long at Ray, even though Ray was too busy cracking eggs in the heated skillet.

["I don't know, past three days he's been puking on and off. He won't go to the doctors to get it checked out, chalked it up to nerves."] Kai shrugged, sipping on his water, since that was all he was permitted to have before the surgery.

["Probably is just nerves. You'll be gone all day while she's here…"] Bryan trailed, and Kai gave him a questioning look as he knew there was more to what Bryan had wanted to say.

["I completely forgot, Mishka is coming over today as well. It's my weekend with him."] Bryan continued a bit sheepishly.

["I'm sorry, we shouldn't have stayed as long as we have."]

["No, no it's fine. That's not the problem, the company was nice anyways. Gets kind of lonely here."] Bryan shrugged, that loneliness settling into his stomach as he realized just how lonely he had been these past few years.

Kai didn't offer a response, he just nodded his head as a pain of guilt swelled in his stomach. Tala was the only one Bryan had really opened up to over the years, now that he was gone Bryan was alone for a long while. Having found someone not too long after he and Ray got married, though it didn't work out in the end; which left him alone once again. Ian and Spencer came around sometimes, but it was never anything special or long enough to keep Bryan occupied for long.

As they finished up their breakfast, excluding Kai, they sat around the kitchen table back in idle chatter while Ray cleaned up the dishes and put them away. It seemed peaceful enough until he dropped a plate, the hand that held the plate clamping down over his mouth as he rushed up the stairs to the nearest bathroom.

"Is papa okay?" Rain asked, looking to Kai with worry in her eyes.

"Stomach bug." Kai offered with a slight smile, he truly didn't know what to tell her since he didn't even know himself.

The silence broke as a knock sounded at the front door, Bryan rose from his chair to answer it as the knocking persisted. He pulled the door open and a little yellow blur sped past him into the room, stopping just before it reached the dining table where the others sat.

"Mishka!" Bryan called back excitedly, the little boy turned around to see his father.

"Otets!" (Father) The lil boy beamed, his violet eyes shining brightly through his blonde bangs as they laid on his father, still standing by the open doorway. He ran over to him, in another blur of yellow as he crashed into his father's embrace.

["It's so good to see you my boy."] Bryan held him close, taking in his scent.

He released him as a woman came through the doorway, Kai's nose upturned as she entered while Rain just watched in bewilderment. The woman was tall, thanks to her heels, and she wore an expensive romper with a fur lined shawl that draped around her shoulders. Large round black sunglasses hid her eyes, and he blonde hair was primped around her neck in tight curls and clipped to the side. Kai could feel her star at him through her sunglasses, then she promptly turned to Bryan where he and Mishka stood beside each other.

["We had a deal Bryan, when you have Mishka there shouldn't be anyone else present. And another thing, how many times do I have to tell you to get rid of those dogs?"] She sneered, turning to Bryan and lifting her glasses down over the bridge of her nose.

["They're leaving tomorrow, they're the ones that were on the news the other day. Mishka knows Kai, so there's nothing to worry about. Nor, is it written in our papers that it has to be that way. The dogs stay, regardless of what you say."] Bryan sneered back.

Kai watched in shock, no one had ever talked to Bryan like that, nor had he ever allowed them to. Though, he assumed it was because of his son and that he had to be somewhat restrained against his ex. This was also the first time Kai had seen the ex, and he wasn't impressed. Mishka he had met several times, he was five going on six. A perfect mix of his parents, with his mother's blonde hair and Bryan's violet eyes. He was hyper and unrestrained, mainly due to his mother hardly parenting him; always dropped off in some nannies lap every day.

["Yes, I remember seeing that on the news. It's not my problem though, we had a deal."] She sneered again, placing her glasses back over her face.

["It's not written in the damn papers, so stuff it for now Ursula."] Bryan sneered again, drawing Mishka closer to his side as if Ursula was going to snatch him away.

["Hmph, fine. I have a busy weekend ahead anyways. I'll see you later darling, mommy loves you."] She swiveled on her heels, grating against his tile floors and took her leave.

Bryan shook his head, closing the front door before ushering Mishka to the dining table. Rain's eyes were locked onto his, she had never met him before and she was ecstatic to be meeting someone new.

["Mishka, this is Kai and Rain. You've met Kai before, remember?"] Bryan started, pointing them out. Mishka nodded, his eyes landing on Rain's and a smile crept up his face.

["Why don't you two go upstairs and play, hm?"] Bryan ushered him towards the stairs, Rain hopping down from her spot at the table and racing Mishka up the stairs, almost knocking her father down as they passed by.

"Um… Who was that?" Ray asked as he stumbled the last few steps, having yet regained his balance from being knocked into.

"Mishka, he's Bryan's son." Kai explained, Ray's mouth hung open as he looked over at Bryan wide-eyed.

"When?!" Ray squealed out.

"He's five. Don't ask." Bryan sighed, palming his forehead.

"Is that what all that angry Russian was? I didn't come down all the way because I didn't want to be a bother." Bryan only nodded, his palm still pressed to his forehead. "He's a cute kid." Ray offered, hoping to lift Bryan's spirits.

"Thanks." Bryan sighed, taking his place back at the table.

"I'll go clean my mess. Sorry for breaking a plate." Ray gave him a sloppy smile, shuffling himself into the kitchen where the shattered pieces of the plate scattered along the tile.

He gathered the broom and dustpan from the small closet by the back door, sweeping up his mess best he could. It didn't help that the plate had been completely white, making the pieces blend in with the tile floors. Every glistening piece he could find he swept up, having collected everything he could find he poured the pieces in the trash bin. After placing the broom and dust pan back, he took a seat beside Kai at the table.

"So, why haven't I met him before?" Ray asked.

"Ursula doesn't want him to meet anyone I know." Bryan said calmly, though Ray could tell he wasn't really pleased with that arrangement.

"Why?" Ray cocked an eyebrow at him, and Kai gave him a sideways glance as if telling him to stop.

"Mishka wasn't really planned. Her and I got together one night, and she got pregnant. Took me months to convince her not to abort him, she listened and then since then we've had joint custody." Bryan explained, feeling a bit relieved for having told someone other than Kai.

"What does she do?"

"She's a model." Ray whistled at his words as if he was impressed. "Yeah, I know… After Mishka was born she went back into her strict dieting and all that crap to get her figure back. She wasn't relatively pleased that she had gone through the pregnancy, but I am. I love Mishka with all my heart, and I give him what he needs and he's a good kid. A bit over the top sometimes, but he's only five." Bryan offered, a genuine smile across his lips as he spoke and Ray could tell he was truly happy to have a son.

"If she doesn't want him, why not just have her sign her rights away?" Ray asked, getting another look from Kai though he ignored it.

"Publicity. She didn't want to look like a bad mother by doing that, she's a popular model and she figured that would tarnish her reputation." Bryan offered with a sneer.

"What a witch. How'd you even meet her?" Ray kept asking, only to avoid them asking him questions.

"Went to a bar one night, like I said, one-night stand. One time is all it takes." Ray's face paled a little at his words, but he nodded his understanding to him. "How bout you? Kai says you got a stomach bug?" Bryan asked, seeing the paleness on Ray's face caused him to arch an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah… I'll be fine. It should be gone in a day or two." Ray waved at his words, a nervous grin on his face.

Bryan and Kai shared a look at each other quickly and shook their heads, Ray was never a good liar and they knew that. Now not only did Kai feel a bit uneasy, Bryan was feeling it to.

"Well, we should get going. Mariah won't be here till later, you can watch Mishka, right?" Bryan started to pull away from the table, Kai following suit.

"Yeah, that's not a problem." Ray stayed where he was, watching the other two stand. "I'll see you tomorrow." He turned to Kai on his right and gave him a toothy grin, only to hide his nervousness.

"Tell Rain I said bye." Kai lent down and placed a kiss on Ray's forehead, finding it to be warmer than usual.

He gave one last look at Ray before stepping away, as if giving him a chance at telling him what was wrong. Ray just smiled back, waving to him even though he had yet to move from where he stood. With a sigh and slight shaking of his head, he followed Bryan out of the door that lead to the corridor that joined the house and the overhand outside. Once the door shut Ray slumped down his seat, sweat was forming under his hair line. He could hear the car roar to life, and then speed off. A sigh escaped his lips and he pushed himself from the table, heading back up the stairs to check on the kids.

They were glued to the TV that sat on the second floor, playing games with each other and laughing. Mishka speaking broken English to Rain who tried her best at speaking the little Russian she knew. Ray sat himself on the couch to their left, as they had taken the one directly across from the TV.

It seemed like the hours had dragged on, even though Bryan was back within the first hour after dropping Kai off at the hospital. He had found the others upstairs, still glued to the TV, this time Ray was playing a racing game along with the kids. Bryan sat next to Mishka, having made room for his father to sit beside him and sitting closer to Rain than before.

"If Kai saw that, he'd be over there growling in the corner." Ray chuckled, shaking his head a bit. Bryan gave him a smirk at his comment and nodded, he knew how protective Kai was of Rain.

"I don't think Mishka has a things for girls, so maybe not." Bryan offered, ruffling his son's hair.

"Like father like son then, huh" Ray chuckled again, darting the control on his hands to the left as if it would cause his car to veer in the same direction. "Then… How'd you get with a woman?" Ray cocked an eyebrow, ignoring the fact that his car ran into the guard rail on the TV.

"When you're drunk enough, you sleep with anything." Bryan offered with a shrug of his shoulders. "I'm not complaining though, I got Mishka out of it."

"True. He's a good kid. Can't understand him though, Rain's had to translate a few times." Ray chuckled, figuring it best to set his controller down on the glass table in front of him. "I was never good at these things."

"You nervous?" Bryan turned to him, eyeing him best he could. He promised Kai he would watch him, and he was loyal to Kai.

"About?" Ray chuckled, he had a lot to be nervous about.

"Mariah coming over in a few hours?"

"Not really, thank you again for letting her come though. She might slip up and tell us what we need to know." Bryan nodded at his words, even though he had tried everything he could, all the information he searched for came back with nothing.

"What about Kai?" Bryan cocked an eyebrow, and Rain too absorbed in the game didn't seem to notice.

"A bit… Who wouldn't be?" Ray sighed, sinking into the back of the couch. "I think I've prayed to every deity I can think of." He rubbed the bridge of his nose as he spoke, as if it had given him a headache.

"You should see a doctor." Bryan commented. He could tell there was more, but he wasn't sure what.

"No… I'm fine, the bug will go away on its own." As his words passed his lips the doorbell rang, almost causing him to jump out of his skin. "Oh great…" He sighed, pushing himself from the couch and leaving the others on the second floor.

He stilled his nerves as he reached the first floor, letting Mariah in as she jumped inside the house. Her eyes getting wide as she took everything in, much like he had done the first time he had come into Bryan's home. She was alone, to which he was thankful for. After her gawking she turned to him, taking him in as she looked him over which made his skin crawl.

"Ray, I'm so sorry for what happened. I'm so glad to see you're alright. Truly. Rain, is she alright too?" She started as he closed the door, he rubbed the bridge of his nose again and nodded. "Do you know who it was?" She followed him over to the counter and sat on a barstool, as he went around and gathered a kettle and mugs.

"No, we have no clue… Though I know I knew them, they were men from the village, that much I know." He said as he sat the kettle on the stove, grabbing some tea bags from the box out of the cupboard to his right.

"From the village?" She squeaked, a look of horror across her face. "That doesn't make any sense…" She trailed as she started to look deep in thought.

"It doesn't." Ray's voice hilted on anger, though he willed it down. He didn't need to blow up over it yet, he needed her to confess. Bryan had security cameras hidden, and that would be enough to convict her; if she was behind the attack.

"How's Kai then?" She asked, almost taking Ray back a bit.

"He's in surgery now." Ray said, almost forgetting that she had no clue about his cancer.

"Still? The attack happened three days ago. Oh god Ray, that's so awful." She looked like she was on the verge of tears, but Ray knew better.

"No… It's for something else." Ray mumbled, removing the kettle as it started to steam. "He has cancer Mariah, stage one lung cancer. After the attack, they upped the surgery for today. Bryan just got back from dropping him off at the hospital." Ray placed her mug of tea in front of her, standing back against the island that sat across the bar; his own mug in his hands.

"Oh my god Ray. That's… I hope he pulls through, truly." She looked sincere, more than she ever had and Ray couldn't tell if she was lying or not.

"Thanks…" Ray trailed, still unsure if she was being sincere or not as he blew gently on his hot tea.

"Does he know?" She cocked her head a bit, and Ray could feel his body tense and run cold all at the same time.

"No…" Ray shook his head, he knew she would be able to tell. "I don't need him to know, no one does till everything else is settled."

"I won't tell anyone. I'm happy for you Ray, why now though?" She asked again, sipping on her mug.

"It's not the first time… Last time… I… I lost it… Too much stress, it happened right after Rain was three and I was going off for work too much. After that, too much stress on my body I suppose. Which is pretty funny, because these past months have been hell." Ray sighed, shaking his head with a smirk on his lips.

"I'm sorry about the first one. It was always a fear I had with Rain, that I might wake up one day and she was no longer there." Mariah said, her voice still full of that concern that had Ray's head spinning. "How far along do you suppose?" She cocked her head, eyeing him up again.

"A month… Maybe more." Ray shrugged, and a shiver of guilt washed over him. He had still been using then, and he had gong drinking and the occasional one at home. He never thought about it before, but now his mind was spinning at the possibilities of having done some kind of damage.

"You okay?" She pulled him from his thoughts and he nodded slightly to her.

"I wanted to apologize, for everything that I've put you through. I also wanted to tell you, that my lawyer was trying for full custody… Because of you being with Kai, but I told her that wasn't needed. Rain needs you two, I see that now, clear as day really. You two is all she's known and I can't take that from her, but I do want to get to know her. I want her to be able to come back with me to China and meet our families back home, so I'm only asking for joint custody. I don't want a big mess of this, I want to start right." She held his gaze the entire time she spoke, and somehow, he knew her words were true.

"Mariah… Thank you…" It took him a while to find his words, but he truly felt a relief swallow over him.

"Of course, Ray. I'm really sorry, I really am… I am ashamed for what I did to you, I never should have…" She stopped as Ray held a hand up to her, and she sat waiting for him to speak.

"I can't say I forgive you, because truly I don't." He paused and held her gaze with his for a moment. "But, we can start right. She deserves to know you, and you her. I can't take that away from her, I won't. So yes, we can start again." He finished, and his nerves relaxed as he rested against the island once more.

"T… Thank you Ray… I… I don't know what to say."

"Can you tell me, who sent those men after us? I said it was you, but Kai believes it wasn't. Seeing you now, I think the same too. You truly do just want to be with her, I see that now. So, do you have any idea who might have sent them?" He took her gaze back and noticed that she bit her bottom lip nervously, not meeting his gaze.

"Mariah, please. They almost killed Kai, they would have killed me, Rain. If you know who it was tell me." Ray stepped over to the counter she was sitting at, up closer he could tell she was shaking in her seat.

"It wasn't me… I tried to stop it once I found out… That's why I got out when I did, they thought I'd be able to stop it…" She trailed off, tears welling in her eyes.

"They had this planned? For how long?" Ray felt uneasy again, his nerves causing his legs to grow weak under his weight.

"Years… They were planning it for a while now, as far as I know. It took them a while to figure out where you were living, they stalked you two and Rain for a few years after that. Right around when Rain turned 5, I think…" She bit her bottom lip again, stilling it's trembling as she gripped at the hem of her shirt.

"Why didn't you say anything?!"

"I did, no one would listen to me! I couldn't do anything in there, I couldn't protect our child locked up. So, I asked and asked for parole, until it was granted. I begged, pleaded with them to stop." She stood up and turned, lifting her pony tail up to reveal a large scar on the back of her neck.

Ray stepped back a bit, looking it over. It began at the back of her left ear and ran down the middle of her neck and disappeared under the collar of her shirt. Ray's throat turned dry and a lump formed in his throat, he set the mug on the counter before he dropped it, as his hands had become uncontrollable.

"I tried Ray, I really did." She let out a soft sob, sitting back down at the counter, letting her hair fall back down. "Even still, nobody will listen to me…"

"W… Who? Who is doing this?" Ray managed to gather his strength.

A silence loomed over them, Mariah's tears rolling down her cheeks carelessly as she seemed to find her words. Ray stood there across from her, nails digging into the counter tops as he waited for her answer.

"Who Mariah?" He hissed, unable to stand the silence anymore.

"L… Lee…" She choked out through a sob.