Date Written: 11/29/05
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,044
Characters/Pairings: Carol/Bikky, Dee/Ryo
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Through Like Like Love
Disclaimer: Not mine Notes: Something that's been bouncing in my head for a while. Set six years after Like Like Love
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Randy 'Ryo' MacLean was worried about his foster son, Bikky.
He was always worried about the boy, although the twenty-four year old couldn't be considered a 'boy' anymore. After college, the young man had been signed to the Knicks--much to Dee's dismay--and was one of the best players in the league. He had bought an engagement ring with his signing bonus and proposed to his long-time sweetheart.
He was married with a home and a career of his own, but Ryo could still see the tall blonde as the brave ten-year-old boy he had first met.
Today, however, Bikky had turned up at the apartment he shared with Dee, soaking wet from the downpour outisde, looking like he'd seen a ghost. Ryo had immediately started fussing over the boy, giving him towels and spare clothing so he could dry off and change and making Bikky some hot chocolate to warm him up. He and Dee were sitting at the dining room table, having a quiet conversation about a few of Bikky's teammates and his upcoming game.
Ryo set the steaming mug at the younger man's elbow, who curled his chilled fingers around the warmth, but didn't drink. "What's wrong, Biks?"
The basketball player's blue eyes were almost mesmerized by the light brown foam floating at the top of the hot chocolate, and he didn't answer for a long minute.
"It's Carol."
Dee and Ryo exchanged a look. Recently, Carol's temper had been short with everyone in their little family, causing her to do anything from fly into a rage to breaking down into tears from any little statement made by the men. Dee had written it off as Carol just being a woman, but Ryo had disagreed.
"Does she want a divorce?" Dee asked, getting straight to the worst possible scenario.
The platinum blonde hair swayed gently when Bikky shook his head, and the two foster fathers sighed in relief.
"Did you get in a fight and she threw you out?"
Bikky shook his head again, and the two lovers exchanged mirror looks of confusion.
"Then what's wrong?" Ryo asked, leaning over to run his fingers soothingly through the damp blonde strands.
Bikky took a deep breath. "She's pregnant."
"That's great!" Ryo exclaimed, putting an arm around the young man's shoulders. "How far along is she?"
"She's halfway into her fourth month," came the reply. "She didn't want to tell me earlier and get our hopes up and then have something happen."
"Is it because she didn't tell you? Is that why you're upset?" Ryo pressed, trying to look into Bikky's eyes.
Two large fists banged the table, and the cremaric mug was upset, steaming liquid spreading over the polished tabletop. "Ryo, I'm scared shitless! I'm twenty-four and my wife is having a child and I'm deathly afraid of doing something to screw up!" the man replied, glaring at his foster father before breaking down into tears.
Ryo wrapped his arms around Bikky and patted his back soothingly. "Shhh, calm down, it'll be okay. I mean, Dee half-raised you, and you turned out fine."
"Hey!" the dark-haired detective protested as he searched for a rag to clean up the mess.
"You'll be a fine parent," Ryo reassured his son, smiling at his lover over the blonde's head. "You're just tired from working too hard and not getting enough sleep; go lay down in your room, we'll call Carol to let her know where you are."
Bikky sniffled, looking like the ten-year-old he used to be. "O-okay. Can you tell her--"
"We will," Dee replied, ruffling the long blonde hair. "Go get in your bed, monkey brat."
"Hey, I can stomp you now," Bikky replied, wiping his cheeks.
"Gotta catch me first--I'm smaller, more aerodynamic," Dee shot back, pushing the boy towards his room. The two fell into their groove of arguing with one another as they headed towards the bedroom, and Ryo smiled. Dee always knew what to say to their son to make it all better.
The half-Japanese man picked up the phone and pressed the number two, hearing the speed dial quickly toning out the number to Bikky and Carol's apartment. His daughter-in-law picked up on the third ring. "Ryo? Is Bikky there?"
"Yes he's here, Carol," Ryo reassured the girl. "He told us about it. Congratulations."
Carol chuckled. "Thank you. I guess I should have told him about it sooner, hmn?"
"That might have been better," Ryo agreed.
"I didn't think he'd take the news that badly," the woman admitted in a small voice, and Ryo had to smile to himself. Dee might know how to handle Bikky, but he knew how to handle Carol.
"He wasn't expecting such a big change in his life so suddenly, Carol. It was just a shock, he needed some time by himself to think about it."
He paused, thinking. "Do you want to come over here for the night?"
"Would you mind?"
"Of course not," the dark blonde replied, looking up at Dee. The dark-haired man made a hand motion signaling that Bikky was already asleep.
He must have been more tired than they had thought. "I'll come pick you up, okay? Don't go walking around in the rain!"
Carol laughed. "Yes DAD. I'll see you in a few."
"Okay. Oh, and Carol?"
"Hmn?"
"We love you, you know that, right?"
He could hear her smile on the other end of the line. "I do. Thanks, Ryo."
"I'll stay here in case Bikky wakes up," Dee said as Ryo hung up their phone. "I feel like they're ten and thirteen again."
"They still are kids," Ryo replied as his lover gathered him into those big strong arms he loved so much.
"They'll be fine," Dee said firmly, kissing Ryo's forehead as the blonde laid his cheek against his chest.
"We're going to be grandparents," Ryo said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"I'm too young to be a grandfather," Dee groaned, but then smiled down at his lover. "You'll make a great grandma, though."
Ryo pinched Dee gently, making him laugh. "I'm gonna go pick up Carol, why don't you get comfy on the icouch/i."
Dee kissed Ryo gently, smiling. "I'll be waiting with hot cocoa."
Ryo smiled back.
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