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Attention all Tala/Raul fans! You must check out the beautiful piece of artwork by Destiny Kitty, which was inspired by this story, chapter three, actually. The link is on my profile. Click on it and prepare to coo at the cuteness of it all! X3

Chapter 8:

Raul awakes to the sound of rain pitter-pattering at a large glass window that over looks the bay area. A sense of confusion fills his being as he wearily lifts his head off the pillow and glances around the room he is currently occupying. Through the heavy haze of his fevered state, the confusion slowly dissipates and realization fills him. He's in the spare room in Kai's personal apartment. He recognizes it as he has awoken in this room several times before.

That means, if he's here, then…

Quickly glancing off to the side, Raul feels his heart leap into his throat when he spies the familiar and comforting figure of a certain bright redheaded Russian, who is sleeping peacefully next to him on the bed. Raul then realizes that Tala has his arm casually slung around his waist, holding him close and protecting from any harm.

The sight of his tough and powerful boyfriend sleeping quietly brings a smile to Raul's face. A smile that holds an edge of guilt to it.

Despite coming from a less than ideal past, with some social flaws, Tala is patient and loving, someone who isn't afraid to show his affection towards him. Tala has plenty of reasons not wanting their relationship to become common news, but not once has he ever made an excuse not to touch him.

Raul, himself, on the other hand has no excuse other than he's afraid what his sister might think.

A wince appears on Raul's face as he thinks about his sister. Well, at least he knows how Julia feels about his relationship with Tala. She hates it…and Tala as well.

He never, ever thought that Julia could be so shallow. Did she really think that Tala was this manipulation and abusive bastard who forced him into a relationship? Did she really think that he has no emotions other than sadism and pure hatred for anyone considered weaker than he is?

She couldn't be more wrong!

Tala has a short temper, yes that is true, but most people he knows does. Tala is patient, understanding, protective and strong. He might be a bit of a smartass at times, but he doesn't mean anything by it. He's funny when he's being sarcastic.

Not many people would believe this, but in truth when Tala and Bryan get together, they really make him laugh. They are probably two of the funniest people he knows. Not funny like stand up comedian belting out jokes funny or centre of attention funny, but everyday funny. He adores those two when they tell him stories about misadventures they've experienced in the past. Bryan is a great storyteller. Even better when he's drunk, but then most of his stories are rude and results in Kai belting him over the head.

In fact, he could say he adores the entire team! Kai is like a brother to him, a mother even, one who would stand up for him without a second thought and reduce the one tormenting him in anyway to a blubbering mess of tears and pleads of forgiveness.

And Spencer's tongue is just as sharp. If Kai's the mother of the group, then Spencer is most definitely the father figure. Strong and silent, but with a deadly backhand. All he has to do is raise it and people cower in fear! But Raul has never seen him raise it to anyone he knows, despite encountering countless opportunities to slap some sense into someone, ie, Steve from the All Stars who tends to call him a brainless buffoon, he has never even looked like he wanted to strike the other teen. He has a lot of patience, even more than the others combined!

The more he thinks about it, the more Raul realizes that even though this team seems unconventional to the outside world, they are perfect in Raul's eyes. They seem real. They have talents, they have faults, they have personality strengths and attitude flaws. But that's what he loves about them, about them all.

A small smile flitters across Raul's lips as he gazes down at his sleeping boyfriend's face. Carefully, he lifts his hand and trails a finger down the bridge of his nose, stopping at the point. He bites his bottom lip to stop a chuckle from escaping when Tala cutely screws up his nose.

"I love you," he whispers as he leans forward and kisses Tala's cheek tenderly. "I'm sorry for hiding."

Sitting up slowly and carefully so not to awaken his sleeping lover, Raul glances around the room and his eyes immediately falls on the door. A small silver of light seeps in through the open crack of the door and a sense of mild curiosity fills him, wondering if anyone else is here.

Slipping his legs out of bed, Raul pauses to look at Tala with a loving gaze before he paddles over to the door and slowly pushes it open. The lighting isn't as blinding as he first thought so he ventures further, trying to be as quiet as possible.

The only source of light is coming from Kai's bedroom and he can hear the faint murmuring of voices. The voices are soft and considerate, telling Raul that the voices belong to none other than Kai and Miguel.

Peeking inside the room, Raul immediately sees that he is right. He blushes lightly when he sees that Kai and Miguel aren't talking at the moment, instead participating in a very passionate kiss. In a spare set of pajamas he always leaves at Kai's place, Miguel is sitting up against the headboard of the bed, one leg on the bed bent at the knee, and the other dangles off the side. Kai is laying in-between his legs on his side as he leans against Miguel's chest. Miguel has his fingers in Kai's hair, tilting his head back enough so they can share kisses whenever they please.

With one last drawn out caress, Miguel pulls away from the kiss, just enough to look into Kai's eyes as he gazes up at him, looking a little weary.

Raul feels a prang of guilt hit him. Kai must be tired because of watching over him. Whenever he gets sick, Kai is usually the one who watches over him until he's well enough to recover on his own. Tala, bless him, gets nervous and frantic when he gets sick. He just doesn't know what to do.

"You're tired," Miguel says.

"I'm fine," Kai is quick to reassure him. "I'm just thinking about tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Raul tilts his head to the side in question; he too wondering what is so special about tomorrow. Does Kai have something planned?

"Yes," Kai sighs as he snuggles further into Miguel's arms. "What are we going to do about Julia?"

Oh…

Raul physically winces. That's right. He still has to face his sister yet…

"After the verbal attack you gave her," Miguel says, a teasing smile making its presence known on his lips. "I don't think she has a leg to stand on."

Raul looks on with intrigue as Kai blushes lightly as if from the memory before he gives Miguel a look of defiance. "…She deserved it, though," he says with an adorable pout on his lips.

Miguel chuckles and kisses his forehead softly. "Oh, no doubt," he says. "But I think we should leave the rest to Raul."

"I know," Kai sighs again. "When he's ready, of course."

"Maybe he can find the courage within himself not to hide anymore," Miguel says with a gentle smile as he tightens his arms around Kai's slender frame, holding him close. "Like us."

Kai nuzzles his cheek against Miguel's shoulder as he breathes deeply; exhaling as he completely relaxes against him. "Do you think it was a good idea for me to oust us like that?"

"Are you kidding?" Miguel says with a chuckle, the smile not once wavering on his face. "There couldn't have been a better way. In fact, I think you inspired other couples to do the same. I always said that you were an inspiration."

A light blush immediately dances across Kai's cheeks and Raul has to cover his mouth with his hand to stop himself from releasing a chuckle. Miguel likes to compliment Kai whenever he can, always earning himself the cutest blush. He's right, though, Kai does tend to inspire people around, mostly without meaning to, though.

"Besides," Miguel continues. "I don't think anyone will have the guts to say anything bad about us. Especially not after seeing what you did to Rick."

"I didn't hit him that hard," Kai says, once again a pout adorning his lips as he screws up his nose a little in defiance.

"Hard enough to get your point across," Miguel says before he falls silent and gives Kai a tender and loving smile as he trails a finger over the tattoos on his cheeks.

Kai watches him for a moment before he raises an eyebrow. "What?" he says, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile.

"I love you," Miguel whispers, bringing their faces closer together.

The smile on Kai's lips grows in tenderness and rubs his nose against Miguel in an Eskimo kiss. "I love you, too," he whispers, tilting his head to the side ever so slightly to let Miguel press their lips together in a very soft kiss.

"It's late," Miguel says as he pulls back slightly. "We should try to get some sleep."

"I know," Kai says as he places his hands on Miguel's chest and pushes himself away, looking ready to get up. "Maybe I should-"

But Miguel cuts him off by grabbing his arms and crushing him against his chest as he nuzzles his cheek in his hair. "Raul will be fine. Tala's with him, remember? He's safe now."

Kai makes no attempt to struggle and simply falls limp in Miguel's embrace. "Ok," he whispers as Miguel lifts an arm to turn off the bedside lamp. "Let's get some sleep. It's been a big day, for the both of us."

As the room falls into darkness, Raul pushes away from the wall he's leaning on and carefully makes his way back to the spare room, back to Tala. They were right. He needs to find the courage within himself to come out about his relationship. Everyone already knows, so what's the point in hiding anymore?

Silently, he slips into bed and presses himself against Tala, who immediately wraps his arms around him tightly. A smile appears on Raul's lips as he prepares himself to settle down for the night, but then Tala releases a soft groan and Raul realizes that Tala is waking up. A few moments later, Tala's eyes flutter open and he peers at him through a sleepy haze.

"Raul?" he murmurs, lifting his head up a little to gaze at him in concern.

"I'm sorry," Raul whispers as he pushes himself into his chest, nuzzling his head under his chin.

Tala places his hands on the small of his back as he brow knots in confusion. "For what?"

"I've been scared of what might happen if Julia ever found out about you," Raul confesses as a small shudder of guilt and regret races through his body. "I had so many possibilities running through my head."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there," Tala whispers, a weary sigh of regret passing his lips.

"No, it's ok," Raul replies with a shake of his head. "I now know what Julia thinks and I…don't want to hide anymore."

Tala's eyes widen slightly in surprise. "Hm?"

Raul snuggles even closer to him, his arms snaking under Tala's to wrap around his body, his hands resting on his shoulder blades. "I love you, I really do."

"I love you, too," Tala whispers as he places a kiss on the top of his head. "We'll be fine, you'll see."

"Yeah," Raul whispers with a genuine smile spreading across his lips. "I know."

--

With her dressing gown drawn tightly around her, Julia steps outside her appointed room and stares up at the sky as dark clouds unleash a torrent of rain to the earth below. The mood is dark, dank and miserable, just how Julia feels inwardly and outwardly.

"I hope Raul is somewhere safe," she whispers as tears of guilt sting in her eyes. She bites on her bottom lip to stop a sob from escaping.

Kai was right, this is her fault. Raul is sick and most likely hurt, and it's all her fault. Why did she react the way she did? Her sweet and innocent little brother dating one of the badasses from Russia? It shocked her, and instead of reacting like any good sister should, she lashed out at him. She hurt him. She…betrayed him.

And she feels like the biggest bitch in the world. How could she turn on her own flesh and blood like that?

"Julia," comes another female's voice. "You should go to bed."

Julia tenses at the tone and a grimace appears on her face when she recognizes the voice. It's Hilary, perhaps the biggest supporter of same-sex couplings, especially of the male variety. "You're annoyed with me, aren't you?"

"I…," Hilary hesitates for a moment, pulling her own nightgown closer around her before she nods her head just so. "Yes, a little."

"I do care for him," Julia whispers softly.

Once again, Hilary hesitates in saying anything, but she feels that she needs to give her two-cents worth. "T-that's hard to tell sometimes."

"I do pick on him a lot, don't I?" Julia says, a wince on her face again.

Hilary chews on her bottom lip. "From what I seen, yeah."

"Do you think that's the reason why he didn't tell me about Tala?" Julia suddenly asks, folding her arms around her body as she shivers from the cold. "He was afraid of what I would say…afraid of me," a tear slips from her eye as she covers her face with her hands. "I'm such a bitch."

"Julia…," Hilary whispers, a sense of sympathy in her voice and eyes. She walks over to the other woman and rests her hand on her shoulder, giving her a hint of comfort that no one else has attempted to give her since this whole ordeal started.

She can tell that Julia really is sorry for her outburst.

"You should go to bed," Hilary suggests, a reassuring smile on her lips when Julia lifts her head to look at her. "It's a new day tomorrow. Maybe you can still make things right between you two."

Julia rubs the tears stains from her cheeks as she nods. "I hope so."

Ah, another chapter done. Only one or two left to go. One, most likely, but I make no promises. This story was original only supposed to be three or four chapters long. What the hell happened?

Please review.