Hey everyone! Long time, no see!

Hope you're all doing all right in these dark and crazy times. This year sucks so far, don't it?!

On that note, I'm sorry for not updating in months. Along with this shitty virus, work continues to pile on the stress and zap my energy and will to live, let alone write! T.T

But finally have something for you! SO happy to be updating this!

As always, huge thank you to anyone who left a comment last chapter! And to all of you still reading this far ahead!

So this chapter, honestly I had these ideas a looooooooooooooooong time ago and they always stuck in my head.

Really with where the story is going, it felt like now or never to put them to paper (or word...), so I decided to just roll with it and use it as a leader in to the next part of the story.

And after so much focus on Kai and Rei with their ups and downs, I thought it might be nice to have a chapter that centered more around Gou!

Big thank you to Luxah, who helped me in the first scene with Kai and Rei! Really helped me get things going!

Without further ado, please enjoy! :)

Note: "/Hello./" indicates French being spoken.


29 - Baba Knows Best

As the glass doors got pushed open, a plump receptionist looked up.

She frowned. She hadn't seen this face before.

But in an split second, it was clear who it was.

"/Hi. I'm here to pick Gou Hiwatari up.../" the uncertain man with violet eyes and two-toned hair announced.

This was a first for him. Rei always picked him up.

But today he was going to be at school late, so finally it was his turn.

The plump lady smiled broadly. It was always a highlight of her afternoon when the long haired one came to pick him up. A cheeky treat for the eyes.

But this one was hardly anything to sniff at either...

"/Aw, doesn't he look just like you Mr. Hiwatari!" she cooed, "Please, follow me. I'll take you to his classroom./"

He nodded, following her through the hall where rainbow colors attacked his eyes, a weird mix of smells ranging from paint to play-dough to fart hit his nose and shrieking and laughing smashed him in the ears.

The lady opened the door.

"Gooooouuu?"

Kai peered in, just as Gou turned his head from the trains he was playing with on the floor and dropped them in a heartbeat as he caught him.

Oh. My. GOD.

PAPA WAS HERE!
THIS WASN'T THE NORM!

AHHHHH!

He scrambled up and fell over his feet and pieces of wooden train track as he went like thing possessed, arms going up with his eyes lit up like Christmas.

"Paaaappaa!"

Kai grinned, heart melted like every time he got such a grand welcome like this.

He bent down and swung him up, giving him hug and getting an enthusiastic one back.

"Heeeeey buddy! You have fun today?"

Gou looked like his face might explode as sounds came out of him in an attempt to explain about his wild day of playing with stuff.

Kai just nodded blankly.

"Oooooh. I see...ready to go?" he asked rhetorically as he turned to go.

"/Ah! Mr. Hiwatari! His bag is over here.../" his teacher waved him over.

Kai blushed.

Ah. Right. His stuff.

He carried him over, stepping over the assault course of toys on the floor and other children to get to the little hooks and shelves.

As he put Gou down to get it all, one of the boys behind him decided to make the fatal error of taking another kid's block.

"/Hey! Give it!/"

"/No! I wanna play!/"

"/Mine first!/"

"/No!/" he pouted, clutching it to his chest and taking off with it.

"/Heeeeeeeeeeey! Nooo!/" the kid whined as his eyes watered and lip trembled, "/Ms. Legrand! Ms. Legrand! He took it!/" the boy wailed like he might die.

The teacher sighed heavily, going over to catch the tiny thief and give a talk about sharing for the fiftieth time that day.

Only then Kai realized he'd been looking over his shoulder the entire time staring, turning his head back to Gou.

...Huh.

As he got Gou's jacket on him, he kept glancing around the small classroom, eavesdropping on the other kids, which did nothing to ease the cogs that had started turning in his brain.

….Huh...

As he picked Gou up again, he shuffled over to the teacher, who was picking up some of the mountain of toys on the floor and cleared his throat.

"/Hi./"

"/Hello?/" she smiled at him from the floor.

Hello indeed...

Kai realized he was towering over her and crouched down, balancing Gou and the bag as he went down.

"/Can I just ask...out of interest...how old are these kids?/"

She blinked at him.

"/They're the same age as Gou, Mr. Hiwatari. All two./"

Kai nodded and paled a little.

"/Uh huh...but like, a late two, right?/"

The teacher lifted a brow.

"/Some yes, some no.../"

Kai picked himself up, paling more.

"/Are you okay?/" she asked.

Kai nodded again and turned.

"/Yes, thank you...bye.../"

The teacher blinked as he walked off, enjoying the view at least.

"/...Goodbye?/"

Minutes later, Kai was busy trying to buckle him in to the car seat, mind racing.

"Hey Gou, buddy? Who's this?" he asked as he grabbed the Almighty Stuffed Comrade.

"Donnoo!" Gou cheered, holding his hands up for it.

Kai held it back.

"No, no...it's Donald...can you say Donald for me?"

"Dono!"

"No, no...Do-na-ld..."

"Donooo!" Gou whinged angrily.

The hell was this?! Make with the goods old man! He'd had a long day...

Kai sighed and gave him, shutting the door and skulking his way to the front seat.

Oh god...

This was bad.

This was really bad.

He checked his phone. Rei still wouldn't be home for hours yet.

He had to remain calm.

And he had to go to the grocery store...

A light bulb went off.

He could test some more. Ask him what things were and see what he did...

Maybe it was all in his head...


Tiredly, Rei stepped into the house and painted on a smile.

At least now he was home. Heaven.

His safe place with his boys. Where peace and harmony had finally been restored to what it used to be.

"Honey, I'm home!" He called, feeling slightly better as he did since he'd always wanted to do that.

But, Kai was always home after him so he never got to before.

Footsteps thundered, quickly coming out of the living room and in to the hallway as Kai made a beeline towards him, paler than usual.

"Hey. Hi. How are you? Come with me. Its fine, don't panic." Kai spewed as he took up his wrist and dragged.

Rei blinked a little, feet following as his smile fell and he started to do what Kai had just said not to. "W-wait, what's wrong? What happened?!"

His feet picked up speed to follow.

Kai kept pulling him towards the living room.

"I didn't know!" He defended guiltily, "I thought it was normal!"

"What?!" Rei yelled, full blown in panic mode now with him. "Is Gou okay? Are you okay?!"

Clearly he wasn't okay, but hell he figured he should at least ask so he had something to go off of.

As they reached the living room, Kai threw him to sit down on the couch, his words not registering due to the crisis.

He crouched down next to Gou on the floor, happily and obliviously playing.

"Watch this..." he said gravely as he picked up Donald again.

"Goooou. Who's this?"

Gou lifted his head and looked down again instantly.

"Dono." His sweet voice replied.

Kai turned back to Ray and pointed at the child, face like he wanted to cry.

Rei sat there, confusion evident on his face.

"I'm lost... Fill me in, please." He begged as he placed an elbow on one knee and leaned his chin into the palm of his hand.

Kai took another sorrowful look at his son.

"He isn't working right!" he told him frantically, "He can't say it properly!"

Rei blinked, cogs turning to try and translate from Kai to understand what the problem was.

"Babe..." Rei started as calmly as he could. "He's two."

Kai shook his head.

"So are the kids in his class! They were having conversations Rei! Fights even! Why can't he do that?!"

Rei licked his lips a little before he smacked them together and slid off the couch to sit with them on the floor. "You want him to fight with the kids in his class?" He questioned, though already knew the answer and wasn't the point Kai was making.

"Look, he's two. It's not that big of a problem that he can't do what they do." He offered in an attempt to calm him down, placing a hand to Kai's shoulder.

Kai's eyes watered. He wasn't getting the gravity.

Something wasn't right with their son!

"You don't get it, Rei! This is serious! His classmates were having coherent conversations! I-I took him shopping and tried to get him to say simple words and he can't! He just makes noises that don't resemble anything!"

Rei took it all in and sighed.

"Gou, who's that?" he asked as he pointed to Kai beside him.

Gou looked up.

Man, they needed his help a lot today.

"Papa!" He told him before he looked back at his toys.

"I understood that." Rei said as he looked back to Kai. "He understands us, that's what matters. So what if he's not able to pronounce things coherently right now. Don't rush him, he's only this small once."

Kai narrowed his eyes. Urgh, why was he so calm!?

He picked up the plastic donut on the floor and held it out to him.

"What's this buddy?"

Gou looked up again, grinning and taking it from him.

"Humnumnum!" He squeaked as he shoved it in Donald's face and then dropped it.

Cars needed drivin'.

Kai gave Rei his 'I rest my case' face.

Rei matched his look with a 'you're being ridiculous' face.

"He said humhumhum, he was eating it." He informed, "Seriously, he's fine. Every kid develops differently."

Kai shifted irritably.

"The difference was huge, Rei! I don't want to rush him. I'm in no rush for him to grow up but I want him to at least grow up okay! What if this isn't normal?!"

Rei held in a sigh. Sometimes he wanted to just smack the sense back into him from wherever he dropped it.

"Then we'll take him into the doctors, see what they say. Okay?" He offered.

Kai nodded and went back to watching him, riddled with concern.

And Rei was able to enjoy a whole minute and a half of peace before he couldn't hold it in.

"I just don't get it! He learned to crawl fine. He learned to walk pretty quick. I think? Wasn't he on the earlier side?"

Rei finally expelled the sigh.

It never stopped once it started...

"Talking is a little different than physical mobility, Kai. Just because he was quick in certain things doesn't mean he's going to be quick in everything he does. Give it time, practice more. There's nothing wrong with our boy though."

Kai huffed back. Rei was right usually. But he was wrong about this. Even though he'd thought that a million times before and Rei still ended up right, this time he was wrong.

Something was up with Gou. He just knew it. Could feel it in his gut.

Rei huffed right back at him, patting Kai's shoulder again.

He knew that look.

Despite having no real grounds for concern, logic was out the window. All that was left was irrational flapping.

His brain was like a bulldog and this idea was like the bone it wouldn't let go of, now he had hold of it.

Just like the other times...and no doubt the countless times that would follow in their life together...

Lucky him...

Taking a look around the living room some a light bulb went over his head.

"Hey Gou, can you bring me the blue truck?" He asked without pointing to it.

Gou looked around the floor, crawling over to the blue truck and picking it up.

Excellent choice, Baba. This was the best one.

He shuffled over, arm out ready to give it.

"Thank you." Rei smiled as he took the truck from him, throwing a small smirk at Kai. "Like I said, he understands and that's good enough right now given his age."

Kai sighed again.

Maybe...

But Rei's problems weren't over yet.

"I'm gonna go check on dinner..."

Rei arched a brow as Kai got up.

Wait...what?

"You're making dinner?" He asked as his feet picked him up to follow.

It was a joint effort now, even if Kai didn't want the help.

"Yeh. Why would I wait for you to come home and make it? Not that much of a shitty partner." he snapped.

Was potentially a shitty father though.

Maxime said when she first met him, he was mute...

Was that environmental or was it like a genetic thing?

No, but he could talk. He just didn't. Gou didn't seem to be able to.

"That's not what I said..." Rei rolled his eyes at him, "What are you making?" He asked as they got into the kitchen, eyes raking over the counters and the mess.

Great...

"Uh..." Kai answered as he racked his brain. What was he making again?

He peered in to the pan. Ah. That was right.

"Spaghetti and meat sauce."

"Ah..." Rei nodded as he looked into the pan. "Did you salt the water?"

"Yes!" He fired back as defensively. "I think..."

Rei let out another small sigh. He was trying. At least the house was still standing. "Do you want me to set the table?"

"Please!" He called as he half stirred while getting his phone out.

The best thing to do was ask the internet...


The very next morning, after a Google search turned ugly, a burnt dinner from lack of attention, another long and fruitless 'discussion' with Rei trying to convince him Gou didn't have something hideously wrong with him, and a dream where Gou graduated college still baby talking, Kai and Rei sat in the pediatrician's office.

A cat clock sat on the wall, tail swinging and eyes shifting from side to side with each swing.

Kai may have had a fondness for cats, but this one he wanted to murder.

They'd been sat there for over thirty minutes already!

It didn't matter that it was their first time there, or that they didn't have an appointment! This was serious!

He glanced over at Rei, face buried in his phone since the magazines were all in French.

Must be nice to be so damn calm...

His eyes went back to Gou yet again, watching him intently as he observed his every move.

There were some other kids in the waiting room, sat on a soft mat playing with toys.

But Gou was too engrossed in whatever the hell that stuffed doll was.

He never really saw Gou with other kids. It was always the three of them and Maxime, really.

Why was he just playing by himself? His teacher said he was a happy, social little guy, but come to think of it, when he picked him up yesterday he'd been playing by himself as well.

Was the teacher lying? Just saying good things to keep parents happy?

Had he passed on some kind of loner, anti-social gene as well?

His knee started bouncing a little.

What was taking so long?!

Google gave a bunch of possible reasons.

Anything from bilingualism to neurological disorders to ear infections being the reason for it...

Also said kids who weren't stimulated enough. Parents not talking and engaging with them enough can cause it.

Did he spend enough time with him?

Rei talked to him, surely...

"Gou Hiwatari?"

Kai leapt out his seat, tapping Rei as he did to hurry up. "/Here!/"

He ran over to get Gou, taking him by the hand and walking to follow the nurse through to the doctor's office.

A middle aged man greeted them, inviting them in to take a seat.

Kai settled uncomfortably, setting Gou on his lap.

He hated bringing him to the doctor. Ever since his first set of shots.

Poor thing cried so bad...

Rei on the other hand, casually got himself comfy and folded his arms. He doubted this would take long.

"/How can I help you today?/" the doctor asked, smiling and waving at Gou.

Rei turned his head to Kai.

"Remember to translate..." he reminded.

The last thing he needed was for Kai to go off while he sat there having no clue what was going on.

The doctor sat up.

"Oh, I speak English pretty well. Would you feel more comfortable if I spoke English?" he asked with a heavy but perfectly understandable accent.

Kai was about to protest, but-

"Yes, please...that would be great." Rei sighed appreciatively.

"Very well, how can I help you today?" he asked again.

"Well..." Kai started, "It's Gou here...he uh..."

He looked to Rei for back up, but Rei was already looking back at him daring him to try and pass the buck on him.

This was his panic, he could explain it himself.

"Well, he's not talking. I noticed his classmates at daycare can have pretty decent conversations. But this one can't do that at all..."

The doctor looked the child over.

"And how old is he exactly?"

"He turned two in September."

"So almost two and a half."

Kai nodded.

Oh god, two and a half sounded so much worse than just two.

The doctor nodded back.

"And he's completely non verbal?"

Kai stuttered.

"Yes? No? He says a few words...but otherwise its just kinda noises."

The doctor tilted his head.

"So, he does know some words?"

"I mean, not many..."

Rei sighed, but bit his tongue for the time being.

"Can he form two word sentences? More juice, Where papa?, that kind of thing?"

Kai shook his head.

He couldn't recall him ever putting two words together.

"No! He doesn't! Why would that be?!"

The doctor raised his hand for him to calm down and came around to settle in front of the child.

"Does he imitate? Try and copy things you say and do?"

"No!" Kai exclaimed, frantic.

Rei snapped.

"Yes! Are you kidding?! You were angry at someone on the phone a while back and he keeps mimicking when he plays! He copies us all the time! That's why I keep telling you to be careful around him!"

Kai's head turned.

Oh, yeh! He did! He put his hands on his hips like Rei did when he wasn't impressed with something, as well as other little mannerisms.

"I mean yeh! He does!"

Rei rolled his eyes.

This is exactly why he insisted on coming with...

The doctor fought the smirk.

"Is English used at home?"

"Uh, yes!" Kai spat out, sensing the opportunity, "B-but so is Japanese! And he goes to a French daycare! Is that why?! Too many languages?!"

The doctor waved his comment off.

"That whole theory is poppycock. There's no evidence of bilingual babies having trouble learning to talk. I just asked to see if I could speak to him."

All Kai could do was nod.

Shit. That as the outcome he was hoping for. Was the easiest one to fix...

The doctor gave the little boy a big warm smile.

"Hello, Gou!"

The kid shrank a little, going shy at the unfamiliar face and staring.

"He responds to his name? Looks at you if you call him?"

"Yes." they both said in unison.

The doctor nodded, grinning at the toddler and getting a shy grin back.

"Can you help me? Where is your nose?" he asked in an animated voice, shrugging like he had no idea.

Gou eyed him.

Poor guy needed his help.

He lifted his little hand and smooshed his nose.

"Very good!"

Kai bit his tongue.

What the hell was this achieving?!

The doctor wasn't done.

"I like your socks! Who is this?" he pointed at the Mickey Mouse socks.

The toddler stayed quiet.

"H-he only knows how to say 'Donald'. Kind of." Kai filled in, feeling his knowledge of what Disney characters he could say might be of help.

"Dono?" Gou asked as he looked up at his dad.

Did someone say Donald!?

Kai gestured at him.

"See."

The information went ignored.

"Can you take off your socks and give them to me?" he asked in happy, friendly voice.

Gou stared back at him for a moment blankly.

This wasn't Donald talk any more...

But hey, this guy needed his socks.

Seemed nice enough. Sure, he could have 'em...

He leaned forward, gripping the toes of his socks and yanking, the material stretching out until they both pinged off his small feet.

The doctor took them as he offered them to him.

"Thank you so much! What a good boy!" he chuckled as he ruffled his hair, getting a smug grin from him.

Kai let out an impatient breath shoot out his nose.

"What exactly do his socks have to do with him talking!?" he asked impatiently.

"Kai!" Rei hissed at him a little.

Just let the man do his job...

"Who is this?" The doctor asked as he pointed at Rei.

Gou pointed as well, face lighting up.

"Baba!"

The doctor glanced at Rei, and Rei gave a small smile.

"That's the name we decided he would call me. Its what we call our fathers in China. Figured it was less confusing."

The doctor looked pleased.

"And who is this?" he asked as he pointed at Kai behind him.

Gou bounced in his lap.

"Papa!"

Kai shifted more.

Rei did all this at home last night. Didn't answer shit about why he wasn't making sentences yet!

Should have just handed money to Rei and taken him for brunch instead of this...freakin' quack.

The doctor stood himself up, struggling a little and pushing on his knees.

"Your son is fine, Mr. Hiwatari." he announced as he straightened his clothes.

Kai's jaw dropped.

...That was it?!

Rei smiled. Told you so on the tip of his tongue.

"What do you mean fine?!" Kai argued back.

Why was no one taking this seriously?!

The doctor sat himself back down.

"Yes, there are a lot of children the same age can use a lot more language than Gou can. But there's nothing wrong with him. He's just taking a little longer to get there." he explained, only to get cut off.

"But the internet said its a red flag not to be talking by now!"

The doctor rolled his eyes.

If he had a euro for every parent who thought the internet knew better than him, he'd never have to work again.

"Look, Mr. Hiwatari...your son responds to his own name, recognizes yours, is using words, he can understand questions, point at things, follow instructions, he's imitating you...there's nothing to be concerned about." he listed off, "He just needs a little more time. I can assure you he will get there. You said he goes to daycare, that's per-"

He got cut off again.

"And he only plays by himself! That can't be normal after months in daycare! He should have friends and social skills and stuff right!? Is it cause he can't talk?!"

The doctor lifted his hands.

The will to find something wrong was strong in this one.

"I can assure you that's completely normal. If you watch the kids together, you'll probably see them doing their own thing but next to each other. They're playing by themselves but they're paying attention to what the others are doing. Don't worry, when they get a little older they start playing together more." he reassured.

Kai shifted Gou in his lap, slowly accepting defeat.

"So...what should we do? To help him along?"

"Do you read to him? Show him picture books?"

"Yes."

"Talk to him?"

"Yes."

"Sing with him? Nursery rhymes and the like?"

Kai let out a nostalgic smile. Aw. He hadn't gotten his guitar out for him since they moved to France...

When was the last time actually? Last he could recall he was still such a baby and little...

He looked down at his lap.

God, he'd gotten big...

Urgh...and now they were here about him learning to talk...

Rei was right, why was he trying to rush this?!

"Um. Sometimes..."

The doctor held up his palms, swivelling a little in his chair.

"Then you're both doing a great job. Just keep doing what you're doing. Once he starts, you'll be amazed how fast he picks it up."

The doctor adjourned their session before he found something else to panic about, bidding good day to the cheerful toddler and two dads.

Kai could feel Rei eyeing him as they walked out, and could feel the tail going between his legs.

"..Just get it over with." he bit after the wait for it got too much.

A fang slipped out as Rei smirked.

"Told you so..."

Kai sulked.

"Yeehhh yeh, how silly of me for caring, right?" he bit sarcastically.

Rei's smirk stayed in place as he sighed.

"Don't be like that. I know you just wanted to make sure he was coming along all right. But you have got to have more faith in our parenting. He is happy, healthy and loved. He's perfect."

Kai caved and gave a small but appreciative smile back.

Rei could have rubbed that in his face much harder. But instead, he was being supportive and understanding as ever.

Gou wasn't the only one that was perfect.

...And he deserved that brunch after forcing down burnt spaghetti last night...

"Come on. Let's go to to Marcelle's. My treat..."

Rei's smirk grew.

Putting up with his flaps always ended with some kind of reward...


A few days later, the three of them were in Amiens, nursing their full bellies on the sofa after Maxime's life changing Sunday lunch.

Their hostess flittered around, getting tea ready.

She loved her home now.

She always had enjoyed the charm of the actual building, but after losing her husband, the house lost some of its life as well.

But now, with a family dropping by regularly, the house was alive again. The vases held fresh flowers to brighten the dreary February weather. The floor was scattered with toys that got played with. The crockery and wine glasses were used.

And even more of a rarity, the TV was on, switched on to some kid's channel for Gou's sake while he played on the floor.

She came in with the tray, setting it on the coffee table and sinking in to the comfy seat beside Kai.

As they chattered, Gou hung out with Donald and the variety of stuff he had to play with, switching from one to the other.

His head lifted, going down to his toys again before quickly snapping his head back up to the screen.

His mouth slowly hung open.

His big, violet eyes got wider and hypnotized.

There she was again...

The princess...

His blue eyed angel...

As he absorbed the shock of seeing the beautiful vision, he finally re-harnessed the power of movement, taking it upon himself to alert the others of her arrival.

He got to his feet, bouncing over to the sofa with bumpy,overly excited sounds coming out of him.

"Essa! Baba, papa! Essaaa!"

The adults stopped talking and turned their attention to the bursting toddler.

Kai arched a confused brow.

"What's that buddy?"

Rei glanced at the TV and didn't know if he wanted to smile or sigh.

"Oh yeh, look...its Elsa...again..."

Seriously. Were there no other movies kids liked?!

Kai turned his confused brow to Rei.

"Its what now?"

Rei turned to give him the look of disbelief.

"Oh come on. You know who Elsa is..."

Kai made a face.

"Do I?!"

"Yes! ...Don't you? Or am I the only one who has to suffer with this cr- I mean movie?"

Kai took his eyes to the screen, squinting at the two girls on there he was sure he'd seen around somewhere.

"...Ohhhh. Is this Frozen?"

"Uh huh..." Rei droned, sinking in to the sofa.

"...Gou's seen it?" Kai asked.

Rei lifted his head lazily.

"Only about ten times..." he groaned.

The joys of having a toddler.

Suuuuuuuuuuuure loved repetition...

Kai's frown deepened.

"What? When? How come I've never seen him watching it then?"

Rei shrugged and smirked at him.

Why did he get the feeling he was feeling left out?

Aw, his weirdo...

"Cause you're at work? We always tend to go out and do stuff on weekends. Guess you and him don't really get to watch stuff together. But by all means, have at it so I don't have to have the songs in my head." he chuckled.

Kai's eyes went over to Gou.

He'd taken himself back to the carpet and slumped himself down with Donald, head tilted back a little and totally transfixed.

"Hn..." he chuckled before the adults resumed their conversation.

A while later, Gou's attention span had dwindled some, going back to some toys and playing only to get sucked right back in as his ears picked up a more than familiar piano intro.

His head turned to take in the dark, snowy mountains. His fair maiden trudging up it looking sad.

"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen. A kingdom of isolation, and it looks like...I'm the queen..."

Rei's ears perked as well, quickly tapping Kai to get his attention.

"Watch..." he whispered, "Sometimes he dances to this. It's really cute..."

As if his ears were burning, Gou slowly rose to his feet. Though everything in reality was blocked right now. All that existed was the snowy world where she was...

"The wind is howling like the swirling storm inside. Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I've tried..."

Gou stared at the anguish on her pretty face.

His poor princess...

But it was okay. The good stuff was coming up...

"Don't let them in, don't let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know. Well, now they know!"

He felt the magical bubble of excitement as her glove blew away in to the snow.

Time to party...

As her hands lifted, so did his...

"Let it go! Let it go! Can't hold it back any more!"

He grinned and jumped as the sparkly ice came out her hands, copying her with his own. Oblivious to his father's nose wrinkled up in silent laughter and dying of heartmelt along with his nana on the sofa behind, while Rei did what Rei did best and got his phone out.

They stayed as silent as possible, determined not to have him catch on they were watching him in case he stopped.

But luckily for them, the princess was too captivating. His arms swinging and moving every time hers did.

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small. And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all. It's time to see what I can do, to test the limits and break through..."

Gou's eyes lit up as her hands flew out, causing the snow to spiral in to a bridge.

Here it came...

"No right, no wrong, no rules for meee..."

Gou leapt up with his hands up.

"I-FWEEEEEEEEEEE! EDDIGOOO! EDDIGOOOOOO!" He hollered, pitch all over the place.

Rei almost dropped his phone while Kai's mouth dropped open.

This was new!?

Sadly for them, the lyrics after that were far too complicated for Gou to try and mimic, it seemed. Turning in to random bouts of off-key humming in places.

Besides, he was more interested in getting the dramatic foot stomp in to the snow that turned in to a giant ass snowflake right, hitching his pant leg up like she did her dress.

And just like every time, his excitement dropped to blind awe as the ice castle rose out of nothing.

What a woman...

"My power flurries through the air into the ground. My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around. And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast..."

Gou tensed up, almost vibrating and bursting at the seams.

THE HAIR THING WAS COMING! AND THE DRESS!

"I'm never going back! The past is in the past!"

"EDDIGOOOOOOOOOOOO! EDIGOOOOOO...HMM-MM...DAAAWW!"

He immediately got speechless again as the sparkly dress happened, throwing his hands out like she did as she snake-hipped her way on to the icy balcony, hearts popping over his head as the shot zoomed in on her beautiful face

"The cold never bothered me anyway..." she smirked, before slamming the door on him.

"...Oooooo..." he let out.

The adults finally couldn't hold it back any more, and let their cackles out at the sad noise he made now she was gone.

Maxime and Kai clapped, snapping him out of his daze and back to the room.

"Good job, darling!" Mimi gushed, while Kai grinned from ear to ear.

He'd never seen him do anything like that before.

The dancing. The singing!

The indications that he was taking after his old man in more ways than looks!

His baby boy was camp already!

"Why didn't you tell me he sang!?" Kai asked frantically at Rei.

"He's never done it before!" Rei defended, already hitting send on his phone.

He knew a certain someone who would really get a kick out of it.

Kai stared at his son.

"...How is it possible that you're singing better than you talk...?"

Maxime shifted, making herself comfortable again as she settled down with her tea.

"Oh, that happens. I took care of some little ones who were similar. Could sing but couldn't talk..." she told him as she sipped.

Kai snapped his head to her.

"Really?!"

Rei rolled his eyes.

Oh sure, if Maxime said it, he believed her...

But then, he guessed mama did know best...


Six odd thousand miles away, brown eyes glanced down to his phone as it buzzed beside him, distracting him from the TV.

He shifted under his blanket on the couch, navy hair messy and in his pyjamas.

He smirked. As he always did when he saw Rei's name pop up.

Ooooh. A video...

His eyes lit up.

GOU-GOU-GADGET!

He sat himself up, smashing the play button and waiting impatiently for it to load.

Less than a minute later, his heart burst.

"Awwww noooo!" he cackled and gushed, biting his fist a little at the cuteness overload.

He was growing so fast...

He kicked his feet under the blanket.

Two more months! Two more months until he finally got to see his nephew again!

...And best friends, of course. Whose wedding he was attending...

BUT HE WANTED BUDDY TIME!

"HILARY! HEY HIL, COME SEE THIS!"


Two Weeks Later

"Come on, buddy! Let's get your jacket on!" Kai ushered as he knelt down, holding it open for him to slip his arms in.

The toddler's face stayed flat as he put his arms in, but quickly turned annoyed as his papa went to do his zipper for him.

"I-dooo it!" he protested, a little slurred almost.

But clear enough to make Kai's jaw drop to the floor.

...Three words? When did he learn that?!

Wait, him doing it?

But...That was his job...

"No, papa do it. We have to go..." he cooed as he went to try again.

Gou squirmed, letting out a whinge.

"Gou do it!" he growled sloppily, wriggling to get out his hold and gripping at the zipper.

Kai sat back, feeling somewhat rejected and hurt.

But after what felt like forever of watching him struggle pointlessly to hook the zipper together, he ran out of patience.

Not to mention, they were dangerously close to running late.

"Gou. Papa's doing it. We have to go!" he told him firmly as he took it and just did it for him, despite the whining and squirming.

With his zzzzzip up to his neck, Gou's eyes loaded up ready for the tantrum.

He was a big boy. It was his jacket!

His father had no right!

Do over! He wanted a do over!

Rei winced from the kitchen as the piercing screaming and crying went through his ears, quickly grabbing his things and going to the hall to find Gou on the floor, red faced and hollering while Kai looked done before he'd even put his shoes on.

"What happened?"

Kai stood himself up, finding himself feeling less frustrated, but more sad.

"He said he wanted to do up his jacket, couldn't, I did it for him. The end."

Rei lifted a brow.

"He said he wanted to?"

Kai nodded, feeling his eyes water a bit.

"Mmhmm. 'Gou do it', he said."

Had he ever heard Gou say his own name before?

No, he hadn't actually.

That was big...

And that just made the sting in his chest get bigger.

This was ridiculous. He should be happy, proud.

And he was, really...

This was exactly what he'd wanted...

Rei's eyes widened before he grinned.

Three words?! This was a first!

And the doctor was right, that was coming along faaast!

Typical really. They take him to the doctor worried he wasn't talking and then almost immediately starts talking...

Gou! Buddy! Way to go!

Their little baby was growing up...

He glanced at Kai, looking him up and down, knowing that face.

He rubbed his back.

Apparently he was thinking the same thing, but was having different feelings about it.

Just like he knew he would. Which was exactly why he didn't understand his rush.

"Let's enjoy it while it lasts, hm? Even...this." he chuckled as he gestured weakly to the hysterical toddler on the floor.

"Yeh..." Kai sighed. There was no point standing here in mourning. "But as much as I want to stay here and enjoy this, we have to be at the wedding planner's in thirty minutes! Give him Donald and let's get him the hell to daycare."

Rei chuckled, turning to go find the tantrum kryptonite and feeling he excitement in his stomach bubble up again.

Two more months to go...

Two more months until he became Mr. Hiwatari.

At this rate, Gou would be able to give a speech at the wedding.

As long as he didn't object, he could talk as much as he wanted.


End of Chapter!

I hope you enjoyed it! Just some Gou based silliness to lead us in to the next bit! Which I'm very excited for!

Would love to know what you thought!

I'll do my best to get the next update up quicker! But until then, take care!