Chapter 20

And in the morning…

M.S.K: Why? XP

Nights Child: My speech goes out the window too... and I giggle... a lot... which is why I avoid drinking... I told a lot of people the stress thing, and I think my mother laughed the most. As for what Kai and Robert did to Michael... ;)

Slave Of Darkness: Couple counselling? Damn, I never considered that one. I will have to keep that one in mind for future fics. And you love it that much? The story?

Blake-Schawarz: Do things ever turn out right when I hold the fics reigns? lol.

LAD: Oh yes, Rei is very naughty when drunk. And I think Bryan is a tad more sarcastic. ;)

MrsKaiHiwatari: Thankies

Mika: You know me, I love creating new pairings... or more... not sure what to call it when there's more than four when I'm speaking in terms of a collective. However, I am never going to write a smut fic featuring those four though. ((cringes)) As for what happened with Ray and Bryan, I never give the answer. I know the answer, but I never give it. ((blows a raspberry)) As for Lee and Kev... they will be back in due time.

Kuroneko Hikage: It will all depend if Kai and Tala find out. Oh yeah... ((looks at laptop)) almost complete. I'll put it up on AFF.N tomorrow night, and send you a copy via email. Blade of Roses. Almost there...

Koneko no Rei: Okay, that review was cute. ((hugs Tala)) Sorry I made you go off the wall, Kit. And don't be too mean to Bryan. He didn't mean it. Besides, Ray kissed him first. And I'm glad you think Mariah is a victim. My intention, so I'm glad it paid off.

KaiJr91: This isn't the only fic where Ray is drunk. I've done it before (in an WIP fic). And hangovers are fun to write... just not to have.

dimonyo-anghel: I never drink, and this be one of the reasons why. Besides, my ex-boyfriend drank. Now you know why he is an ex-boyfriend.

Trinity and Mallcara: That's right. Kill me, no more ficcy. XP

Zap Cannon: Interesting review. Have you been drinking Russian Vodka?

Shirogane Ayumi Asagi Kiyoshi: Okay, that is a lot of sugar.

demongoddessYume: So much happened in that chapter that I really must commend you for picking up on it all. Let's see how you go with this chapter. XP ;)

sWeEtPiKaChu: Indeed.

Hikaru-chan-4ever: A... JPID? What is that?

Lullaby Lily: Yes, I love Bryan/Ray as well, just not a good thing in this fic. Hence why I created Centrepiece. You like Tala in this story? People aren't usually too fond of the way I write Tala. Or Bryan, for that matter. And I've got a foursome fic coming up tomorrow (I hope) on AFF.N as a present for Kuroneko Hikage. I let her set me a challenge and I wrote it. Kai/Ray/Tala/Bryan. Hope you'll come read it. I promise to update Centrepiece too.

Disclaimer: Please see first page

With the morning came the hangovers as the nine elder teens awoke to the painful soberness, finding themselves in the strangest of places. Michael was the first to awaken, staring up toward the bridge and frowning, trying to work out how the hell he had ended up lying in the snow beside the river. Nearby in a park, Robert and Kai were fairing no better, at the back of their minds knowing that they had achieved something but unable to remember what.

Spencer found himself in his teams suite, a note from Ian telling him that the younger had come across him lying in the hallway and, with the help of Johnny, Emily and Mariah, managed to drag him onto Spencer's bed. Eddy and Steve awoke to discover themselves outside a sports centre stark naked, and even after long thought they couldn't remember what had become of their clothing, the two using newspaper they had found to make a dash back to the hotel.

Tala, to his surprise and utter disgust, awoke to the pungent smell of garbage to find himself lying in it. Somewhere in the course of the night he had managed to work his way into the nightclub dumpster, and he couldn't remember what had occurred from his sixth drink onward. The lipstick on his collar didn't help his memory either.

Bryan and Ray, of course, had the rudest of awakenings. Only fragments of the night before were within grasp of their memory, and instantly guilt hit them. Neither could meet the others eye as they dressed, picking separate ways to return to the hotel, and neither remembering if anyone had actually paid for that cheap motel room.

Bryan arrived back at his team's suite and stepped inside, closing the door and locking it. He sighed, resting his head against the door, trying to force back the throbbing and sickness that plagued him.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Still trying to work that out." Bryan turned, looking toward the couch and spotting Tala stretched out on it, icepack on a bruised lump on his temple. Bryan frowned as he stepped closer, nose twitching. "What's that smell?"

Ian and Spencer looked at Tala, Tala scowling. "It's nothing."

"What ya do? Sleep in a dumpster?"

Tala's face burned as he looked away, averting his eyes.

"So Bryan," Ian said, looking up. "What you get up too? I went for a walk after I found Spencer to see where you all went. Saw Kai and Jurgen walking back. They can't remember anything."

"Neither can I." Bryan dropped into a seat, rubbing his eyes. "I can remember Tala's dancing though. And something about a drinking game…"

"Steve and Eddy," Spencer said, then paused. "I think."

Ian sniggered. "You mean to tell me that none of you remember what you did last night?" All three of his teammates shook their head, Ian bursting out laughing. "Man, this is priceless. You could have all been in an orgy together and you wouldn't know!"

Tala scowled. "Things like that are illegal, Ian."

"And shut up, will ya!" Bryan growled, massaging his temples. "We're all hungover here."

Ian shrugged, trying to control his laughter and failing miserably. Just as he was almost on top of it he would snort, starting out on a fresh batch and earning winces from the others. He let out a yip as a cushion caught him in the face, Spencer picking up another and throwing it, again hitting his target as Ian retreated to his room as a third flew after him. They cringed as the door slammed, letting out long breaths as the silence returned.

"Thanks Spence."

"Anytime, Bry." Spencer leant back in his seat, brushing back his dark-blond hair and sighing heavily. "Going out might not have been such a great idea."

"Mm." Tala shifted the ice pack, looking toward the clock. "I say we try and sleep it off. I know I said I wanted to train today, but…"

"If you'd said we were training, I'd have killed you." Bryan closed his eyes. "Sleeping sounds good."

"Agreed." Spencer pushed himself up, a slight wobble to his step before he caught himself. "Sorry for leaving early."

"You looked shit, Spence. That's why I told you to go." Bryan waved it off. "No hard feelin's."

"None at all." Tala smiled. "But I think we needed it."

Spencer nodded his agreement, moving toward the room he shared with Ian. As he disappeared Tala straightened, setting down the ice pack before stretching, rubbing his neck as he looked lazily around the room. Sighing heavily he looked toward the other, taking in his appearance. Ice blue eyes narrowed, biting his lip in faint amusement before he nodded to himself, raising an eyebrow.

"Coming to bed?"

Bryan grunted, eyes cracking open to look at him. "One condition."

"Which is?"

"You shower first. You smell like crap."

"Stale beer and rotten food, probably."

Bryan looked at him quizzically as he stood, reaching out to offer Tala a hand up, one that Tala accepted. "How the hell did you end up in the dumpster, anyway?"

"No idea. All I know is one minute I was dancing, and the next I was curled up next to a half empty packet of cheese rings..."

((o-o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o-o))

"Remember anything yet?"

Kai shook his head, sipping his tea as Tala joined him in the small community lounge that Tala had once seen Enrique and Oliver in shortly after the White Tigers' victory. "Ray and I have been discussing it all yesterday and this morning. Like me he can only remember up to a point, and after that everything is blank. He said that he remembers you glaring at him."

Tala chuckled. "I probably was."

"Much like you dumped Bryan in a corner and vanished to mingle, hitting on anything with two legs in order to make him jealous."

"Hn." Tala scowled, staring at the table. "Wasted effort."

"No impact?"

"None."

"So what happened?"

Tala crossed his arms over his chest, looking to the side as if something had caught his eye though Kai knew it was an excuse not to look at him. "I gave up.'

"Oh?"

"He knew what I was doing. He told me that this morning. He knows me too well." Tala shook his head. "I've been thinking about what you said and you're right. It's stupid for me to make such a big deal over something so petty."

"Something you are gifted at." Kai took another sip from his drink, eyes never leaving his cousins face. "So have you apologised?"

"Me?" Tala shook his head. "I don't apologise for anything, Kai, you know that. No. But we made up. I've let him know my own way that I've put it behind me. Hopefully we can move on from here."

"You will, considering how stubborn you both are."

Tala leant back in his seat. "So how are things with you and Ray?"

"Same as always. It was interesting seeing him so hungover. Not that I was any better myself." Kai frowned, gritting his teeth. "Did I tell you about the stunt my teammates pulled?"

"No." Tala leant forward, elbows on knees. "Do tell."

"While we were at the clubs it would seem Giancarlo and Polanski came around and the four of them 'had a good time' if you take my meaning."

"Really?" Tala chuckled. "You know, one day I wouldn't mind trying something like that. Well, perhaps not a foursome, but maybe a threesome." He looked up. "Interested?"

Kai shot him a glare. "Never realised you were a fan of incest."

"I never said either of us had to be in the middle. I was thinking Bryan. After all, he did admit to finding you attractive."

"I doubt that would make him want to sleep with me. Besides," Kai took another sip from his tea, "I thought you weren't interested in sharing."

"So I have my moments." Tala chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "Yeah, you're right. I doubt I'd ever be able to share Bryan."

"Exactly how I feel about Ray." Kai set down his cup, shrugging. "But I guess that it-"

"Idiots."

They looked up sharply, spotting Ian as the other leant against a pillar, glaring at them. Kai's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

"I can't believe the trash your talking." Ian moved toward them, eyes burning. "You're all lovey dovey again with those two no-good slimy-"

"You'd better have an explanation, Ian." Tala glared at him, shifting to stand. "Cause if you don't I'm going to-"

"Shut up, Captain." Ian stopped before them. "They've really got the wool pulled over your eyes, don't they."

Kai frowned. "Who?"

"Bryan and Ray. Who do you think?" Ian snorted. "Did you ever find out where they woke up the night you went clubbing? From what I've heard it sounds like they've been avoiding the issue, and for good reason. You see, they woke up together."

Tala growled. "What gives you the right to assume-"

"I saw them, Tal." Ian shook his head, growling. "While I was out walking. After I saw Jurgen and Kai. I was walking along this road just off a main street and who did I see coming out of some low key motel room? Ray and Bryan, that's who. And they looked a little rumpled if you ask me. Not to mention guilty."

Kai swallowed hard, glaring at the younger. "You're bullshitting."

"Wish I could say I was, but I ain't." Ian shook his head. "Ray went one way, Bryan hung around for a bit and went the other. They never said a word to each other, just tossing each other the occasional glance. You know, see what they're up too. I came back another way which is why I got home before Bryan. But I can assure you it was them."

"No." Kai shook his head, eyes flashing. "You're lying, Ian. It's all bullshit. You're just taking as stab at us."

"Don't believe me?" Ian smirked. "Go on, go ask Ray where he slept that night. I dare you. He's in the hotel's café."

"Fine. I'll go ask him." Kai threw himself to his feet, pushing the younger roughly aside as he stormed from the room, voice echoing back. "I'll prove you wrong, Ian. And when I get back I'm gonna kick your arse."

"Yeah, yeah." Ian turned, looking down. "Sorry, Tal. I'm afraid I'm not lying. Just thought you might want to know."

Tala nodded, tight-lipped as he felt Ian leave him. Faint anger rippled inside, a soft growl emitting from the back of his throat. "Yes, we'll see all right. We'll see indeed."

Tala woke up in the trash. :p And I actually cut a scene out between this chapter and the last. There are two scenes that got completely tossed out and that is one of them. And could someone kill Ian? Please?

Oh, and head for my LJ. I'm playing with a fic idea, given to me as a challenge from my sister. I'm not sure how to work it. Anyway, the details are on my LJ, which you can access via my profile. Help me please!

Have a good ANZAC Day. May they rest in peace. (if you know nothing about ANZAC Day, type it into a search engine and look it up. It's sad.)