Wow, I swear…after I saw all those reviews, my eyes went starry. I am a review slut; I have no problem admitting to that so for everyone that was kind enough to leave me encouragement, here is the next chapter.
I would have posted much earlier…but I have only just finished my ban now plus I was sick a few days. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Nothing.
-Chapter 2-
''Off to bed now.'' Tala himself wanted to yawn as he shooed the tired faces off towards the bedroom, following them down the hall.
They protested at first, claiming that they were fine and still wide awake as they rubbed their little eyes and stifled yawns that tried to escape while they spoke. He smiled at them, shaking his head. When they had guests over, back home, it was always the same routine.
Reluctantly, Raisa gave in first, said her good nights and led the way. Adrick soon ensued and as they lay there, on their new beds, looking up at the ceiling, they let their fatigued orbs, brimmed with exhaustion close and basked in the serenity the night offered. Tala sat amid the mattresses as they both were quickly swept off by their bright and innocent dreams and gazed warmly at his young ones.
They never ceased to make a smile surface on his lips. Bryan as well, leaning against the solid doorframe, watched them with his own content grin, locking glances with his lover as he rose from the floorboards. He gently tip toed between them and laced fingers with the other's pair as they headed back for the living room.
''Up for the hot tub?''
With a shrug, unlike their children, they did not protest to that offer.
In the guest room, the Russians changed from shorts to…another pair of shorts, except made for a pool of water and pressurized jets that could relax every tense muscle in ones body. Oh yes, they positively wanted one of those. Who wouldn't?
Tala finished first and as he went to pull on the sliding door, when he could not hear following footsteps, he glanced over his shoulder. Bryan stood there, arms across his chest, changed but hesitant. A red brow arched and the whole mass of crimson locks tilted to one side in silent questioning.
''I don't want too.'' He finally replied, without a pout, even if his sentence did sound somewhat whiney, something over time acquired from the hellions.
Blue eyes blinked for a second in confusion. Then, it dawned on him.
''They will not notice.'' He reassured and took hold of a forearm, dragging him outside to the porch.
There, already comfortable in their luxury, the hosts waited. However, in the mean time, they found a way to amuse themselves. Currently their mouths meshed and tongues were obviously in action. A demonstration bit too sultry for but a chaste, sweet kiss.
''Sorry to interrupt.''
Rei pulled himself away from the tempting mouth and flashed them a toothy grin.
''Join the party.''
As Tala made himself comfortable, his countenance became lost in the bliss of hot nozzles pressing into his back and soothing the tension along his spine. He was definitely asking for one of these on his next birthday. Bryan went to join him, when Kai's voice froze his step, though it spoke calmly, as if his statement was casual.
''Bryan, that is quite the scar you have.''
Every nerve in his body wanted to glare at his lover, daring to look up at him, from his sit position with a look of cautious glinting off the azure depths, clear like the water. Yet, he shrugged it off and remained indifferent in his tone, barely sparing a glance down at the marring below his navel and just above his trunks.
He breathed one word and joined the depths of the water, concealing it beneath the surface. ''Abbey.''
Tala nodded and shifted, turning back to them as he pointed to his back.
''We are all flawed.''
The faint scars from past incisions descended the length of his spinal cord, from the base of his neck and upon each shoulder blade, two long identical gashes, healed over but still lingering that proved his somber point. He greeted them with a comforting smile as he leaned back against the ledge.
''But, the past is behind us now and shall forever remain.''
''Da…'' Kai agreed, he himself not wanting to venture back into that obscurity and terrible blemish which they all endured, long ago.
''On a much lighter note'' Rei began, clearing the topic of what made their guests uncomfortable. ''I wanted to talk about the kids, since-'' He glanced at Kai with a warm, sweet smile. ''We might be lucky enough to have what you both have, sometime soon.''
''Well, like you two, we just wanted to settle down. Either of us have any families, so we decided to start our own with the little hell raisers.'' Tala leaned over, across from him, planting a chaste kiss on an ivory cheek that blushed a faint rose afterwards. ''It's one of the last steps of a relationship.''
''What about marriage?'' Kai added, and then supplied his after thought. ''Wouldn't you look adorable in a white dress Tala.''
There was laughter and an annoyed redhead.
''Who says I would wear the dress?''
''Me.'' Bryan gave him a serious look, one not to be countered with a dominant smirk. ''There is no way in hell I would.''
''I'll stick to my white tuxedo.'' Tala finalized any mental images of a bridal gown and him in it. ''But we are going too. Children are just expensive to raise, so it's been delayed.''
''The kids didn't question your relationship?'' Rei rested his chin on a palm, curious, like the little kitten he was.
''That was the longest, most grueling conversation to have with a four year old.'' Bryan groaned, as if recalling the event in question. ''Never again.''
''I agree. We couldn't explain much, so when they get a bit older we'll have to try again.''
Explaining to younglings that love could defy all possible boundaries such as genders, phobias and other illusions society often created and generalized was indeed not a simple task. At such a tender age, they had innocent inquiries about life they saw all around them and things like why their friends had a mother and a father, not two male figures.
They could not give a precise response but tried to show them just how they felt without imposing their beliefs. Only time and the wisdom of ageing would open those sensitive doors. A few more years and maybe the subject would gain more clarity and insight.
Their conversation progressed and after a while, dwindled down to old memories and more shared laughter.
''Did you get to name them, or had they already been given birth names?''
''We were fortunate enough to make that decision on our own.'' Tala began, as the faithful day of delivery floated back to his memory with every anxiety he felt and the worry he cried during the operation.
''I named Raisa after Tala bought me a rose when we went to the hospital.''
They nodded. With Rei's newfound education in Russian and its vocabulary, he caught onto the link between both items. Raisa meant rose in the baritone language.
''Her hair matched with the color.'' He had not entirely lied but altered the version, reminiscing the real unfurling in silence.
The first words he heard meant the world to him. A faint, I love you was breathed out, mixed with relief and tears while the first thing his silvery eyes focused upon was a rose and crying marine eyes. He knew then what his daughter would be called when she was brought to his arms.
''I chose Adrick's name. We all know it means strength and to take a step we like we did, we had to be strong.''
Tala, as his love did, masked somewhat the truth and modified the spoken adaptation. Bryan was a powerful person to have gone through the ordeal and to commemorate the pride and respect the redhead had for him. Therefore, he named their son accordingly. It was his gift and appreciation all wrapped in a blanket from the doctor's hands to theirs.
Rei, in his native tongue, let out a small kawaii as he rested his head on Kai's shoulder, snuggling his arm. They smiled and Tala mimicked him playfully, which earned him a small hn, a trait renown to the Chinese's lover that rubbed off on him.
''What about the similar qualities and looks?'' Kai raised a slender slate brow as he asked his inquiry out of sheer inquisitiveness.
Because really, after all, men can't get pregnant. The looks must be simply chance...
Bryan was unique, wasn't he?
Each gulped down their nervosa. Either felt comfortable to talk but Tala quickly justified it before raising any suspicion for their hesitance. Whatever he said, Bryan would surely agree too or complement with another fib to bury the truth.
''Bry decided to get rid of the lilac hair.'' He tugged at a few locks, dampening them from his wet fingers. ''And I missed the color. So one day, when he came back from work, Adrick greeted him from being a blonde to having lavender hair.''
''Aside from that little event.'' He was right and his back was covered with another lie. ''Raisa was born with blue eyes like her twin brother but they faded. Their mother was a blonde and father a redhead.''
''What luck.'' The other couple concluded. ''We've decided on a girl.'' Hiwatari revealed and his boyfriend beamed with nostalgia.
''Yes, a little girl.''
''They're a challenge.'' The guests said in unison, smirking at each other.
''Oh, we know.'' The hosts concurred in an identical duet, sharing the same grin.
-TBC-
TBC means To be continued. Someone asked...
Now my introduction is complete. Spoil me again? This was, as I know, mostly filler but with the progression, you will see how everything falls neatly into place. I actually planned this one out.
Shameless plug: Check out 'Empire' Chapter 8. Once I get it done...