Kai rested his head against the pillow, turned away from the light that came from his wife's side as she sat reading from an old paperback. He'd had the worst day and the sound of pages turning and sipping from her cup of hot tea was more grating than usual.

His rapid thoughts wouldn't stop, even as he laid in his soft bed. When had his life become so...soft? He used to be intimidating. He used to be quick, constantly on the move, constantly planning. Nobody knew what to expect from him. Now, he had an office with a view of the park and an assistant who knew how he liked his coffee in the mornings.

When had things changed?

Another long slurp and he cracked.

Kai sat up with fervor. "That is starting to get annoying. Either put it down, or take it to the living room,"

Brown eyes, ones he once believed were boring, stared at him while the cup rested halfway from her lips.

Hilary laughed. "You can't banish me. This is my bed, too." She put her cup down, hardly bothered by her husband's outburst. Years of working with the boys had prepared her for the stoic man's hot and cold ways. "You want to tell me what's bothering you? You've been crabby all day."

Kai laid back down, pulling the blanket up. He felt his heart clench. Hilary was one of the best things that had ever happened to him and he'd just treated her like she was nothing special. And she didn't even blink. She just laughed.

He didn't deserve her. "I'm so, so sorry, Hil," he whispered into his pillow.

He felt his wife's hands smooth over his shoulder and she leaned down and kissed his temple. "Hey, hey, listen. You don't have to worry, nobody here is going to hurt you,"

Kai gripped her hand. He'd been feeling on edge since yesterday and knew Hilary wasn't oblivious. She'd sent little secret coded messages throughout the day, and had a drink waiting for him when he got home. She even kept the kids distracted while he hid in the home office. He'd forever be grateful that his kids would never see him angry or anxious because Hilary was there to make sure they'd always see the best of him.

"It's stupid," he said.

"I'd doubt it,"

He sat up, leaning against the headboard. Hilary moved her pillows around so that her head rested in his lap, facing up toward him.

"It's work," he started, "I want to expand the company. We already have a training center in New York with Max and the one China is doing well under Ray. Tyson barely has to go into the center here, though he goes all the time. All three are turning profit and doing really well."

"And you're bored."

Kai blinked. "How'd you know?"

Hilary laughed, loudly and deeply. "Because inside you're still that kid who met three other boys and said 'I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to win!' And you're here to win, not just do well."

"Having an international training company do well is not losing,"

"Is that Ray's argument?"

"Do you just want to have this conversation by yourself?"

"I bet I could," Hilary nodded, "but I like talking to you."

Kai took and deep breath and crossed his arms. He could feel Hilary shuffle in his lap.

"Dear Diary," she said, starting an old game they used to play, when difficult things needed to be said and yet saying them to the other's face was too hard. "I feel like my husband isn't being honest with me. I feel like he wants more than what we have. Maybe he's not happy here."

"No," Kai said, unfolding his arms and cupping Hilary's face. "I'm happy with everything we have accomplished; so unbelievably happy. Happier than I ever let myself think I could be,"

Hilary smiled gently, and again leaned in to kiss her husband's palm. "Then?"

"I feel useless here," Kai admitted. "Tyson is a personal trainer, Max and Ray manage their own centers. I oversee the entire company. But the company is doing so well, there's hardly anything to manage. So, I asked them to expand, to give me something to do."

"Expand how?"

"Russia. It only makes sense. We have one here, America, China. For the company's next move, Russia makes sense," he rattled off, the idea having circled his head all day.

Hilary sat back. Their bed was large enough that she could go of the other end of it and feel like she was in a different room, but she always stayed close. "When you say expand...you want to go back to Russia. You want to expand to Russia."

"They could use it. I've run the numbers and everything is perfect for it. It's the right time, there's a market out there. And the country's reputation in the Beyblade community is finally recovering from...everything that we did."

"What would that involve?"

"A two years, maybe three to get the center up and running. And then I was thinking Tala could come in to manage,"

"Then what does it solve, Kai? You'll uproot our family's life for three years, and at the end of it, you'll want more again. So, then we move to another country to start over? And then another? When would it be enough?"

"I wouldn't uproot the family," Kai muttered without thinking, not really hearing what Hilary said.

Hilary scoffed, drawing his attention back to her. She was crawling off the bed, heading to the bar cart they kept in the room for the occasional night caps, muttering, "I'm too sober for this,"

"Excuse me?"

Hilary stood by the cart, turning to face him. The red slip she wore to bed hugged her round hips, but he couldn't focus on that while she was pointing at him. "You want to leave the family, and move to Russia for work because you're getting restless. This is the most...man-childish thing you've ever done."

"Man-childish?"

"You're running," Hilary waved her arms around, as if that was the only explanation. "You're running from this; from our life and everything we've built."

"No, I'm not,"

"You're a father, Kai, and I know that's scary because I'm terrified. I had a basically normal upbringing, up until about the age fifteen when I met Tyson, and even I'm scared of screwing our kids up. I can't imagine what it's like for you. But you can't run from this,"

He sputtered, her panic taking her by surprise. "This has nothing to do with the kids,"

"How could it not?" She was starting to breathe heavily.

Kai threw back the covers and hurried over to her, hugging her to his chest. "Hilary, breathe. I'm not running. I love you and the kids. I'm not leaving."

"I know you love us," Hilary muttered, her breath warm against his skin. "Do you need this?"

"I need you,"

Kai knew it was the truth. After everything the team went through, he'd come to accept that they were permanently apart of his life, and he wouldn't change it. It was when Hilary had left for college that he realized it wasn't just the boys he'd come to depend on for stability. At first, he thought it was just the normalcy she offered, to balance out the crazy the team seemed to naturally attract.

But later, after she dated Tyson for a few years and then went on a few first dates during her college years, he realized that what he needed from her was not normalcy or balance. He wasted no time letting her know once she returned.

"I won't go," he rubbed her back. "I'm sorry for suggesting it."

She nodded.

"I don't even know what I was thinking, like I could spend six months away from the kids or you, much less three years."

"Well, I'm glad you've come to your senses,"

Kai stalled, recognizing the tone of her voice. The tone of triumph. He leaned away so he could get a good look at her face. What he expected to be red and tear stained was actually bright, crowned with a wicked smirk.

"You -"

"What's the matter, dear?"

"You're evil,"

Hilary swatted his chest. "I'm not. What a thing to say to the mother of your children,"

"I thought you were crying,"

"I needed you to hear what you were say. To be honest, Ray could tell you were getting antsy and called a few days ago to warn me you might have some crazy idea. He'd tell you himself, but you won't listen to them like you listen to me. I guess, they're just not as badass as I am."

"You?"

"Sure. I'm more badass than all four of you put together,"

Kai rolled his eyes and Hilary extracted herself from his grasp. She picked up her tea, frowning at the cool temperature. "How are you more badass than any of us?"

"Uh, I rushed head first into danger like the rest of you, except I didn't have a Bitbeast to protect me."

"Yeah, most people would call that stupid, not badass."

Hilary glanced at him, taking a short sip of her tea regardless of his bitter taste. "You sure that's the route you want to take?"

Kai was finally able to take in her nightgown, the way the red deepened against her tan skin, the way her hair fell around her shoulders and down her back. She was far from the scrawny teenager he first met, and only slightly resembled the young women he kissed when she finally came back from school, business degree in hand ready to take on the world. It was her idea to start the training center, built around the reputations of four world champions.

"Do you think I'm scared of you?" He approached her, his hand sliding up her arm, turning her to face him again.

She tilted her head, challenging him. She was never afraid to challenge him, not even when he was at his worse as a punk teenager. "I think two minutes ago you were apologizing for making me cry, so if one of us is scared of the other, I don't think it's me."

Kai leaned down, ready to meet the challenge.

"Daddy?"

Kai stopped, his eyes swooping away from his wife's waiting lips, to the doorway where three pairs of eyes peaked around the door.

"Welcome to fatherhood," Hilary whispered. "Can you believe you were going to leave all this?"

He sent her a sharp look before turning back. "What are you guys doing out of bed?"

Goh came forward, carrying the youngest on his back. Goh was almost ten, born just before the first center opened in Japan. Kai laughed to himself. At that time, he could barely keep up with being a new husband, father, and business owner. When did he get bored?

"She had a nightmare," he explained as Hilary lifted their daughter into her arms, cooing to the worried child. "I tried to help her, but she wanted you."

Even in Hilary's arms, she reached out for Kai, tears still welling up in her dark brown eyes; eyes like her mother's. He certainly could never think they were dull now. Kai took his daughter from Hilary. Goh and his younger brother watched their father rock her gently as she started to calm down.

"Let's get you back to bed," he said to the two boys, leading them back to their room. Despite their large house, Hilary insisted the boys share a room. He argued at first, remembering sharing a room with the other boys back in Russia, and then with Tyson and the others. How he wanted his own space. He wouldn't have his sons going through the same distress when there were so many other rooms in the mansion. She promised if they started fighting, they would separate them, but she knew they wouldn't.

And he had to admit, she was right. They had their disputes, sure, but he'd seen the way Goh watched his siblings, ever their protector. Nothing got past him. Hilary swore Goh got it from him, but Kai could only believe that keeping them close instilled that protective drive in his oldest.

He opened the door to their room letting them snuggle back under their blankets. Instinctively, Goh left enough space for his sister, even though she had her own room. Kai leaned down, gently setting her in the bed and pulling the blankets up. He brushed her gray hair away from her forehead as she breathed evenly. He could already hear his middle child snoring lightly from the other bed in the room, but Goh watched him, nodding as if to tell his father he'd take it from there.

Kai leaned forward to kiss his son's forehead, telling him to lay back down a go to sleep.

He went to leave the room, but as he turned to close the door, he stopped to look at his three sleeping children, his hand rested on the doorknob.

There was a time when he believed he wouldn't have a wife who loved him, much less a family. There was a time when he feared the type of father he would be; that he would resemble his grandfather too much.

Hilary came up to him, hugging him from behind. "How are our little monsters?"

"They're perfect,"

Kai closed the door after one final look. He turned to his wife. She was exactly the same, despite having put the housecoat on to cover her form. She was the mother to his children, his wife, his partner in all things.

"I know," she starting, gripping his hands and pulling him away from the door. "I know you don't regret anything, Kai. I know you love us more than anything, and that if I asked you to leave that company, you'd do it in a heartbeat."

"I would,"

Hilary smiled. They made it back to their bedroom. Kai noticed the cup was gone from her nightstand. How long ago had she been annoying him while slurping away on hot tea. The clock on the wall said it was nearing two in the morning.

"But I also know that you are so hard working, and you can't just sit and twiddle your thumbs all day long. You need something to do, something to work towards."

She directed him to sit on the bed, standing before him with her hand on his shoulders. "So, if you want to pursue this, I will back you. I will stand right by you, and tell the boys that they need to let you do this. I'll handle the kids while you're in Russia."

Kai looked deep into her eyes, wondering how he got so lucky to have this woman on his side.

"But I have another idea," she said, her dark eyes lighting with a wild fire. The same look whenever she had a brilliant idea. "Tyson manages the center here, right?"

"Right," he said hesitantly.

"But he goes in, mainly to train some of the kids there, but I've spoken to him recently. And you know what he told me?"

Kai lifted an eyebrow, silently asking her to continue. He hated it when people slowly led him through conversations. Why couldn't people just say what they needed to? He'd never been able to break her of the habit.

"There's one kid he sees a lot of potential in. He's thinking that she could possibly be a champion one day."

Kai failed to see Hilary's point. Tyson also got excited about all the kids, saying they all had so much potential.

"Maybe you should start looking for a champion to train,"

Kai sat back. Hilary sat on the bed next to him while he digested this information.

"It's been a while since the world has seen you four do battle. It won't the same, but four world-class Beybladers, backed by the former world champions? That would draw a lot of positive attention, a lot of revenue for the centers. And," she paused, lowering her voice to a whisper, "it has the potential to be fun."

He looked at her, knowing she was mocking him.

"Now, I know that word scares you, but I said what I said."

"Fun does not scare me,"

"Could've fooled me,"

"Hilary," he drew out.

"Kai, it's a good idea. And it will keep you home."

Kai smiled at that, thinking about finding someone who he could pass his expertise to. Goh was showing promise during their sessions, but he was still years away from entering the championships. There could be someone before. Someone he could show off to Tyson. Someone he could show off to the world.

He looked back at her, his smart, loyal partner. His gift. She changed him, and allowed him to change. She taught him that he could be both a strong man and a gentle father. He could take charge in business and be loving to his wife. Growing up, he'd been told he could only have one successful life, and the important choice would always be professional. Anyone who married him would be doing so for his name and reputation, and all that came with it.

She leaned forward, closing her lips over his. Even this tender kiss was filled with her devotion.

"I love you," he whispered when she pulled away. "And if it's not clear, I'm staying."

"Good," she smirked at him, licking her lips. "Because the kids want a puppy, and I'm not sure if I can handle three kids and a dog."

He chuckled, pulling the belt around her housecoat loose and pushing it away, leaning over her to continue what she started. "Get them the dog,"

"Wait," she leaned away from him even as he followed, "I haven't slept all night,"

"Why start now?"

She tried to say more, but Kai didn't relent, never one to forfeit when he had a goal.

He knew he changed. But there were some things that stayed the same.

Author's Note:

So apparently I can only write KaiHil every five years. I don't make the rules here, I just live by them. Hopefully, it will change soon.

Not sure where this came from. I was talking to zulka about her KaiHil, though completely unrelated and different, and now here we are. You should go read her stuff though. Like, now.

I hope this catches everyone at the right time. It's a little weird to take a look into their adult lives, and this isn't as fun as some others, but I hope it does what it can for you.

Views are appreciated, favorites are loved, reviews are cherished.

K'onix.