Chapter Eleven-Planning

"You'll have to tell us about this project." Richard smiled warmly at the younger male.

Anaya smiled mischievously as they sat together opposite of the adults. "Well…Kai and I are married." She began innocently. Beside her Kai shot her a startled look as one of the elderly men choked on his drink and spat it out.

"What!"

Anaya burst out laughing as the elderly man spluttered and spewed stunned. The rest exchanged startled looks before the woman leaned forwards with a sigh and smiled. "That's a very interesting way of breaking the news Aya. Would you like to try again to calm down your grandfather?"

Anaya smiled wickedly. "Sorry Grandda, I couldn't help myself."

"So it's not true then, it better not be, you're too young!" He growled blustering.

"You say that about everything." The other elderly man said mildly while hiding a smile.

"Now see here Stanley—!"

"Nicholas?"

Kai looked between the two men with open surprise. They were as old as his grandfather, and yet…while living in such a house, and wealth, they were so much more relaxed and open to each other.

He suddenly felt like an outsider looking in.

Anaya looked over at Kai with a worried expression sensing his change. She scooted closer and looked up at him concerned. "Too much?" She asked softly.

He glanced at her than shook his head swiftly. "Just…different."

Slowly she nodded and rested her chin on his shoulder giving comfort.

Richard watched on as the two sat together and looked over at his sister in law catching her eye. She smiled and nodded seeing it.

"Papa!" Ruko burst in. "I'm hungry!"

Instantly the elderly men stopped arguing and stood as Richard smiled helping Lauren up. "You heard the little man. Let's eat."

Dinner was eventful. During that time Kai relaxed and watched the family curiously as they talked and ate. He had thought that the males would all be on him for being around Anaya for this, but they were surprisingly lax with her private life.

It was obvious that they all trusted her to look after herself and make the right decisions.

He watched her as she explained the project to her family and looked at them. They all nodded smiling at him. He blinked holding back his surprise.

It was acceptance he saw, and friendliness.

Quite the opposite of what he had been expecting.

Later he found out that the family helped with cleaning up, and because he was the 'husband' he had to help Anaya wash dishes.

It went fine until she got childish and flicked soap at him.

After that the soap war ended up covering them both and causing Lauren to take a picture while laughing weakly at the dripping soapsuds off of them.

Reading a book near the window comfortable and relaxed, as he had never been before, Kai heard the door to Anaya's bathroom open and glanced up as she walked out in her PJ's, silk black pants and a tank top.

She smiled slightly at him before sitting before her computer and logging on to her account. After a moment she made a little noise of delight and began to type.

Curious he set aside his book and rose walking up behind her.

She glanced back feeling his presence. "Want to do something tomorrow?"

"Depending on what it is." He replied leaning over her. He took a breath of her soft scented shampoo before resting his chin on her head.

"The girls want to watch some movies." She said. "They'll be coming here for a sleepover. Do you want the guys to come too?"

"You'd let them?" He asked mildly surprised.

"I don't mind, as long as they behave." She cocked a brow at him. He mimicked her accordingly and nodded smiling faintly. "Sure, what movies do you have in mind?"

"Well…" she paused and typed. He waited lazily leaning back as he took a seat next to her.

"Astral wants to see Lord of the Rings, Celia wants to see A Walk to Remember…Serena says National Treasure…"

Kai nodded slightly. "Would it be all right if we brought our own?"

"Sure." She eyed him. "What ones?"
He flashed a grin. "Not sure, yet."

She groaned. "There gonna be horror." She mumbled.

Kai chuckled. "Don't like them?"

"I fall asleep during them." She muttered frowning at the screen.

He looked at her for a long moment before standing and walking back picking up his book. Settling down on the bed lazily he opened it up.

"Are you going to call the others?" She asked.

"I'll talk to them tomorrow." He murmured already absorbed in his book.

Anaya looked over at him and saw him completely zoned into the novel. Smiling amused she spent a bit more time on the Internet before she yawned and signed off.

Glancing at the time she blinked not realizing it had gotten so late. Slowly she approached her bed and slid on to it watching Kai as he read. She cocked her head at the book. "What are you reading?"

"Stephen King." He mumbled showing her quickly.

Curious she leaned over settling next to him and read the few lines becoming interested. But soon she felt too tired and pulled back and tucked herself under the sheets curling into her pillow. "You're going to have to put that down if you want to get any sleep." She murmured closing her eyes.

Startled Kai glanced down and found her falling asleep. Reminded that he had to sleep in the same bed as her he hesitated before he reluctantly placed the book down.

Standing he went to the bathroom and undressed, down to his boxers before returning.

Finding her asleep he slid under the covers and settled down facing away from her. Sleep eluded him for some time as his hormones were attuned to the feminine figure just a roll away. Gritting his teeth he pushed her from his mind, with great difficulty, exercising his mind with little mental activities before he finally fell asleep.

Anaya stirred sleepily waking up and snuggled closer to her pillow feeling it tightening its grasp around her.

Instantly her eyes snapped open, and she realized that her 'pillow', was really Kai, still asleep thankfully, but holding her trapped against his body, which she noted was clad only in black silk boxers, with his arms locked around her firmly.

She felt a small blush cover her face. Well if this isn't awkward now, I hate to see how it will be when he wakes up…

She didn't have to wait long, as he stirred slightly, and woke up freezing when he realized in what position they were. Slowly he looked down at her. Anaya kept very still resting her head on his bare shoulder half closing her eyes. Thinking that she was still asleep he moved slowly and untangled himself from around her and left the bed leaving her alone.

Opening her eyes she shivered lightly despite the covers on her before she rose and dressed when she heard the shower going. Quietly she slipped out of the room and went downstairs and was greeted by her aunt, who was an early riser.

"I was just checking my emails, and I got one from my sister." Lauren smiled as Anaya perked up with interest.

"How is she?" The teen asked.

"Well, she says things are interesting, and they were thinking of coming and visiting. We have to be reintroduced to the twins, and the newer arrival."

Anaya looked delighted by this aspect. Laurens sister, really a half-sister, had married recently, and had twins, who had to be around ten months old now, and as Anaya loved children, and they her, she had become an instant loving nurse for the twins.

"Another baby?" Anaya asked.

"Yes." Lauren smiled faintly. "A boy. They named him Darren."

"Cute." Anaya made herself some toast and took a bite thoughtful. Suddenly a wicked look entered her emerald eyes. "Did they say when they would be coming to visit?"

"In a week…why?"

Anaya smiled slowly, Lauren recognized the expression and leaned forwards curious. "What are you planning now?"

"Well…" Anaya tried to look innocent, but hints of her mischievous nature showed through. "This is what I'm thinking…"

Lauren listened in incredulous believe and began laughing.

"So?"

Anaya looked up as Astral plopped down grinning at her and Celia as Serena smirked to herself while joining them.

"So…what?" Celia asked slowly.

Serena made an impatient sound. "Hello! Your guys little marriage!" She grinned. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are sleeping with a male for two weeks."

"Silver!" Celia protested as they blushed lightly. "Brooklyn is a complete gentleman. He wouldn't do anything inappropriate."

"What about Kai?" Serena asked curiously looking at Anaya.

The emerald-eyed girl shook her head. "Nothing happened. He was holding me this morning when I woke up, but he didn't try to do anything."

"That means he's more then what we thought or he just doesn't want to loose any valuable parts." Astral mused.

"And there is the bet." Serena reminded.

"I forgot about that." Anaya blinked. "What are they on now?"

"Almost three days." Serena cocked a brow. "Wow. That's surprising."

"Think we should make it a bit harder for them?" Celia asked with the beginnings of a wicked grin.

"I think so." Astral looked utterly evil. "But what?"

Anaya looked thoughtful. "Well, Kai is talking to the others about that movie night…that reminds me, is Brooklyn coming?" She asked curious looking at Celia.

"Since he is my husband, yes." Celia smirked. "I think he and Kane will provide a source of entertainment for us."

"That's cruel." Serena murmured her eyes glittering. "I like it."

"I thought so." Celia tossed her light blue hair over her shoulder.

"Anyways." Anaya continued. "I was thinking swimming pool…"

The girls all grinned inanely. "I see where this is going." Astral laughed. "I love it!"

"But that's for tonight." Serena added. "Later on we should do other things, I've already noticed that by dressing up a little that Tala has been practically drooling on me."

Astral was thoughtful for a moment. "My drama teacher wants to put on a dance of some sort for a fundraiser here. But she doesn't have any ideas, or the help for it." She cocked a brow. "Think we could do it?"

"Dancing…" Celia smiled slowly. "That would work. But what is the fundraiser for?"

"Ah…it's for orphans." Astral frowned. "This would have to be on the limits of provocative, but also decent enough not to shock anyone."

Anaya glanced at Celia. "We should be able to come up with several things."

"Including costumes?"

"I think Lauren would love to help out with that." Anaya chuckled.

"Then what?" Serena asked as she jotted it all down on a paper while lying lazily on her stomach.

"I don't know…" Celia murmured her eyes tracking down a male as he walked over. Serena noticed and closed her book casually as Brooklyn ambled over giving them all a sweet, shy and charming smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." He said.

"No, of course not." They smiled at him. Celia sat beside him as he joined them and smiled as he kissed her knuckles gazing into her eyes. They sat talking about various things before Brooklyn invited Celia to go for a walk before the lunch break ended. She accepted and went with him their arms linked talking softly.

"Oh, my. Someone looks jealous." Astral suddenly murmured. She nodded to where they saw Kane standing and his cobalt blue eyes were narrowed watching the orange-haired male.

"He's only known her for a day or so." Serena blinked. "How could he be jealous?"

"Celia says that they talked for a long time when they met." Astral explained. "She said there was something between them, like a click you know? They immediately liked each other and enjoyed each others company."

She shrugged. "I'm no expert on that sort of thing. All I know is that even after a few hours that Streak was wishing he could have his way with me." Remembering the lingering hunger in his green eyes she shivered delicately.

Anaya's nose flared as she narrowed her eyes on Astral, but she said nothing for the time and kept her peace. Comfortably they sat in silence for the rest of the lunch hour before the bell rang. Parting they went to their classes after planning on catching a ride with Anaya, who had brought her own car to school, to go to her place later on.

They looked forwards to later on, when the Players, would be played.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but the chapters don't seem half as good anymore...hm, maybe you could help me by telling what I'm missing. Or just tell me that I'm plain crazy (cause I hear that a lot) but still, if you have any suggestions, I'm open to hearing them. -winks- luv the output.

Til the next chapter...

TEASER!

Celia made a noise of protest. "I don't like horror." She shivered looking at the titles. "Jeepers Creepers, The Ring, The Sixth Sense, Nightmare on Helmstreet…" she looked horrified. "I can't watch these!"

"Why not?" Brooklyn looked over mildly. "Their not real."

She stared at him with the beginnings of a frown. "I have nightmares after I see movies like these." She admitted tartly.

"It goes against her oh so delicate nature." Astral said with a dramatic sigh. Celia huffed and threw a pillow at the smaller girl making her yelp and retaliate. Soon their little fight turned into an all out war between the teens.

Finally they stopped collapsing with laughter at the sight of each other. Serena giggled and reached over and plucked out feathers from Tala's blood red hair. He made a sound of frustration as the feathers stuck to him.

Enjoy? I certainly hope so!

Storm