For my reviewers: To know how Tala and Bryan had children, please refer to the prequel ''Upside Down''.
Answers to questions: The fathers have been away from Kai for half a decade, so it is only natural that they keep things to themselves, especially things like male pregnancy. Imagine springing that on your best friend, out of nowhere.
Lastly, I know Rei is not Japanese but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he knows how to speak the language because I sure don't…
Disclaimer: Nothing.
-Chapter 3-
The whole routine unfurled, the usual morning schedule. Birds chirped and greeted the crisp, bright air, saturated in the golden streams of the sun. The breeze rustled the rice paper blinds and, in the middle of the room, upon their floor bed, a tawny eye peered open.
Normally, he would yawn, occasionally stretch when needed and place a chaste kiss on his lover's cheek, but in a bolt, when nausea struck, he ran for the adjoining bathroom. Once there, dizzy and ill, his stomachs contents would burn up his esophagus and fill the clear toilets water with bile. The sounds of churning resonated in the porcelain bowl as again, another wretched wave crashed down on him.
He waited a second longer as tears spilled over his cheeks like every time through the process. As he stood up, a bit wobbly, he flushed away the concoction of food from the prior night and internal acids. A hand ran itself shakily through his locks, messed from the pillow he prematurely left. Finally, as he looked in the mirror, he yawned and everything slowly started to lighten as his wooziness dissipated.
''Still not feeling better, Rei?''
Rei did not jump; he only smiled and looked up at the face of his lover tiredly. He let himself be embraced and indulged in the body heat that calmed his rapidly beating heart. After all, this was now the third time, in a row that he would vomit, each morning, without fault.
Kai soothingly stroked his back as he too, yawned then ruffled his own bed head of slate strands, good-humoredly. His lips gently pressed to the warm, bronzed forehead as amber orbs blinked up at him, happy and soothed.
''It must be a stomach flu.'' He tried to reassure, though his wan smile was unsure and almost hesitant.
That was not the case… but he refused that certain thought, gnawing at his conscience.
That was not it-
-and his Russian dismissed it as so, nothing but a symptom of the ailment his boyfriend suffered. He headed for his sunup shower, not dwelling any longer on the silence amid them. That was his custom though, followed by a mug of warm coffee and a hearty breakfast.
Rei sighed in relief as the taps turned, letting out a mixture of but a little cold and an abundance of hot that quickly steamed the room and mirrors. He leaned against the wall for a long few minutes, just lost in his thoughts, somewhere he did not want to venture before he decided to change from barely anything into comfortable clothes.
Dressed in baggy, navy pants and a loose shirt, black, most likely belonging to his partner as it was a bit large for him, he slid open the Oriental doors and stepped into the hallway. Quietly, he crept across the wooden, cherry stained floors and down the hallway, past the first guest room with their older company, probably still sleeping.
As he approached, towards the infant's door, little voices caught his attention, broadening a smile across his lips. They must have woken early. He reached out the handle and pulled it open, peeking his head in to see two small faces staring up at him.
''Dobre Utra.(Good morning)'' They greeted in unison, a melody of female complementing male tones, free of any accent.
''How are you both, this morning?''
''Great.'' Raisa returned his friendly, upbeat smile as across from her, the little tough guy was yawning and rubbing his eyes.
''Adrick, did you not sleep enough?'' The boy in question shook his head, stretching his limbs into the air, anything to fight off his fatigue expressed with another yawn.
''I slept fine.'' His voice was drowsy, just as his eyes that were still encrusted with sleep.
''He's just lazy.'' His sister giggled as a glare, blatantly less potent then usual came her way.
He just needed another hour under the covers and he would be his old self again but Raisa, audaciously snuck up behind him, and pounced on her brother as an adorable play fight ensued. They were rolling around, laughing, and Rei, standing there watching them couldn't help but be infected with their chortles.
''So, which twin is older?''
Their brawl was dying down and the tiny redhead, cheeks the same color, looked up at her new uncle with the biggest leer, even wider then a Cheshire cats.
''I am.'' She then pinned her brother down and beneath her, he groaned.
It may have been the only thing, besides her hair that matched her father's that Raisa inherited from Tala but she did take on his pride, all of it. Yet, at the very same time, she was so quiet in every other instance.
When their stomachs rumbled, as Rei's dared to do after his prior session with regurgitation, he accompanied them to his domain, his sanctuary above all others and haven of delicacies, the kitchen.
They had seen it before and yet still marveled at its beauty. This was the only room that did not look remotely Oriental or Asian, even Russian, but modern day American with things from France, of course. It's always nice to have Parisian friends.
''What would you like to eat?'' There were no limits to what could be found in drawers or in one of the two fridges resting coldly on the tiled floor.
He headed for the first and tiny feet pattered along behind him. When the inside was opened, the shelves seemed to overflow with articles of every shape, box, jar and color.
''I know what you're thinking. But I cook three times a day, so it empties pretty quickly and now, we can start with the first.''
Their eyes widened at all the possibilities as their hungry bellies rumbled for everything in their sight.
Kai walked in, a little later fully dressed while the mayhem began. Dressed in aprons, hats and covered in flour, the process of making pancakes, French toast and waffles commenced.
Adrick was stirring the mix of eggs, milk and cinnamon while his sister whisked the batch of something similar but lighter and fluffier. Rei, amid them, began on the Belgian waffles as he heated the iron. Sparing a glance to his lover, he smiled. He had converted them within no time at all.
''Dobre Utra.'' They chimed as their uncle strolled over to the table and the cup of coffee awaiting him. One sugar, two creams and the paper was already beside it.
How he loved Rei.
He browsed through the inked pages, reading the Cantonese characters with ease, though he flipped right to the international and trades section. As he read the statements and figures, an unusually nostalgic grin played on his features.
Rei figured it must be in relation with the enterprise, or a competitor and shrugged it off as he had snuck a glance back. When the iron beeped, his attention was pulled back to the task at hand. The first of three delectable foods was complete, golden brown on the outside and warm on the inside.
Next, on separate frying pans began the cooking of the children's brews. He watched them carefully so they followed the instructions for their final masterpieces. The aroma swayed into the air, invading every set of nostrils in the room. The spatula, one to each hand, turned over the ingredients and revealed a flawless bronzed surface, like his own darkened skin.
They observed in awe. In no time whatsoever, Rei had proven his culinary skills worthy of the elite from the Cordon Bleu.
''Can you get me the butter and syrup, please.'' He asked whilst he took out a large plate to drop everything onto.
The first set of light blue eyes looked back at the table and still calmly focused on the journal was his uncle. However, set for four, with two extra plates, the table was laid out and ready for dinning.
As the Chinese brought forth their food, like a waiter with a pair of plates balanced on a single forearm, they clapped excitedly for his professionalism, though they doubted their ability to spell that word and licked their hungry lips. There was a warm sensation in Rei's heart as, each of them sat. They may not have been their kids, but both learning and soon to be fathers, thought it to be just like a desired family moment.
''Kai, I want two kids.'' As if on cue, Hiwatari choked slightly before washing down the slip up with a gulp from his tepid mug.
Their small guests giggled.
When ravenous mouths were done consuming the meal, the dishes commenced. Laughter and cheers erupted as soap bubbles overflowed from the sink and water was sprayed all over the place.
A first face frowned at all the mess being created while his partner kissed away the sulk then handed him another plate to be dried. They did have a dishwasher but the children insisted on helping clean, as they did back home.
Rei could not refuse them and Kai knew, from that moment, their child, or rather now, children would be terribly spoiled. After the entire ruckus they created, the other set of parents had yet to wake. The time was still early and that change of hours surely disrupted their sleeping patterns.
That is how it was every time either of them traveled.
When an idea struck inside his raven head, Rei smiled to the twins and turned off the taps. Kai was finishing up with the silverware and utensils when his counterpart gathered more to be dirtied and the items left out on the table.
''Breakfast in bed.''
Smiles graced the lips of the young ones. Two more plates were assembled and ensued by the elders; they headed down the hallway to the last closed door. It slid open, quietly, carefully, enough for two sets of eyes to peer inside. They scanned the room frozen in stillness before pushing the wooden gates wide open as they padded over to the bed.
The sight before them, to their young and pure eyes meant nothing, but for the adults, standing at the entry, they felt warm smiles curve along their lips. The scene was profound and kosher, a display of lovers, sharing the deepest bond, now with little spawns, enlaced together.
Ruby locks, long and messy, hid the first face, serene and dormant. The strands of hair veiled some of the second countenance, buried into his back while a different color, hues of gray mixed in with the flames. An arm draped over the cherry top's torso as the other disappeared beneath the pillows. Hands were laced together atop the chest that slowly raised and fell with each passing breath. Their legs poked out from the blanket and like their bodies, intertwined.
Tala slept without a care in the world as Bryan embraced him. They were secure and lost and in their own reveries. Small hands began to poke at flesh. Raisa scampered along one side of the bed and Adrick to the other. She slowly shook the bare back, exposed and scared until a faint groan was heard. He amused himself by continuously prodding the nude shoulder before tossing aside the mop of scarlet.
Marine eyes, matched only by the youth's set blinked open and stared at the smug grin his son produced. The daughter watched as the second father stirred and eventually rolled onto his back with a groggy groan. Mission accomplished. The adults were awake. Leisurely, they both sat up and rubbed their eyes.
''Dobre Utra.'' The duet sang cheerily.
The twins disappeared from sight for a second and returned with two plates as they sat on the bed's edge. The couple shared a morning kiss, chaste because it was interrupted by sounds that only children could make. In a few years, they would graduate from 'eww' to 'get a room'. Nothing could ruin a moment quite like that.
Laughter erupted from the hosts as they stood and watched, envious and anxious. Soon, so very soon, they would have one of their own.
-TBC-
Took me forever didn't it? I made it longer, about a pages worth to make up for my extreme delays. The next chapter is going to kill me.
Lastly, another shameless plug, I have created pictures for both Raisa and Adrick. If you would like to see, leave a note and I will be more then happy to reveal it.