Once again, thank you to the reviewers.
I know I put this on hiatus, I always do with stories...but Yazzy insisted that I write something over my Spring Break.
Let us hope this turns out all right.
And for everyone who still has not seen the picture, say so again, and I'll be sure to send them out.
I will not give up on this!
Disclaimer: Nothing.
-Chapter 4-
The twins scampered off and left their parents with their breakfast in bed to promptly change into their daily attires.
By orders from their new uncle Rei, if they were ready to leave in a few minutes, he would take them out for a treat. The mail had passed that morning and the carrier left a message for the Chinese. He was overjoyed to see the notice for the package's delivery that now waited in town for him to pick up. Besides, that would give the friends time to catch up.
In a flash, the siblings stood waiting at the front door for their uncle to steal the keys to the car, his lover's car. It was Kai's recent birthday gift, the sleek, scarlet red, and classic charger automobile, even older than he was, refurbished, and polished. He promised not to scratch the paint job, kissed the ivory cheek goodbye, and drove off, down the long stretches of road, in the fancy car.
As soon as the house went silent, Tala lied back down on the mattress and let out a deep yawn, whilst his partner ate. He still felt so tired and yet, that aroma of food drew him back up to sit, slouched against the stature beside him.
''Lazy.'' Bryan smirked and held up a mouthful of pancake on his fork.
It was gone a bite later and a content sound escaped the depths that savored the chef's morning platter.
''Rei truly is amazing, in the kitchen.''
Tala then gathered his own plate and let his taste buds relish, in the saccharine meal. Bryan had agreed with a nod when he suddenly felt a familiar pair of lips press to his cheek. He turned; with a smirk only to have that audacious tongue swoop across the etched twitch.
''You had some syrup there.'' He smirked.
A slender gray brow rose in an arch. ''Oh, really.''
''And…I think I missed some.''
They took a shower and headed down afterwards with their sticky dishes. A second pot of coffee was turned on and they willingly took glasses as they joined their friend in his lavish living room.
He grinned at their faces and muttered a simple but teasing sentence; ''Took you both long enough.'' and it sounded like they were young, teenagers again.
How the years had slipped by them, so easily. They had not sat together, the three of them, alone…in a long time.
''I'm really glad to see that you're both happy…'' Kai started sincerely.
''Likewise, Kai.'' Tala smiled.
''You make it look easy…raising children and all.''
Bryan laughed.
''It's not. Trust us. You have every reason to be confused about it…''
''I do look confused…don't I?'' Kai chuckled.
They remembered their first unsure thoughts of being fathers. It was a big blur of confusion, nervosa, and hesitance. Each step was a new challenge, from morning sickness, to mood swings and shopping, with regular doctor checkups. At least Kai would be lucky, they both agreed, he would not have to experience the pregnancy first hand.
Kai and Rei would probably only have to sit down, state their names, fork over some pocket change, and they would have a child, a little baby girl together. They would sign some paper work and before long, they would be proud adoptive parents. That sounded a lot better then nine months of impossibilities, growing in a man's stomach.
''Rei doesn't want to get into paper work until we are positive about this. We figured you could both teach us some tricks, since you've succeeded…''
''It's alright Kai, you don't have to keep explaining…You want to watch us be parents, like a learner's video.''
''You make me sound like a studious scientist…''
Bryan shook his head. ''Scientists are not fit to have children.'' His words sounded bitter but when he looked up to his friend, he smiled. ''You're just a curious, father in training, anxious, nervous…and excited.''
''Thanks…Bry…''
''Don't worry…Rei will be a perfect mother.'' Tala smirked and Kai tossed a pillow at his head.
Rei came back with the twins around lunchtime, when they were both hungry again. All three of them came running in, laughing as Rei declared himself the victor.
''It's not fair Rei-Rei!'' Raisa protested and glared up at her uncle.
''You can't outrun a neko.'' He smirked and his canine peered over his lips, just like the feline, he was.
''What's a neko?'' Adrick tilted his head and looked up with confused blue eyes.
''It's people who think they're cats.'' Tala walked into the hall, and two pairs of feet came running towards him.
''They're a little crazy…'' He bent down and hugged his children, as they giggled when uncle Rei let out a hiss.
''What's that smell?''
Tala smirked.
''Go look in the kitchen.''
Just as those words escaped his lips, cursing rang out from the said room. Rei led the way and as he walked in, a smile spread across his face. Kai had an apron on, with a chef's hat included (he stole it from Rei's closet, he had lots) and stood in front of the range. There was bacon frying, as further down the counter Bryan was cutting up chicken.
They were trying to make club sandwiches, as Tala explained, because they lost an old wager to the red head. He said no more details, and Rei rushed over to the frying pan. He saved the bacon, Kai admitted he could not cook, and in the end, the meal was saved.
They all sat down to eat and through his meal, Rei kept glancing through a book he had on his lap.
''Is that from Rai?'' Kai asked and his lover nodded.
''Rai as in…black hair and big nose, right?'' Rei shot Tala an evil glare as the guilty man started laughing. ''I was kidding…but, why the book?''
''Oh, I hate reading in English…so he sends me Chinese books to read. And I've already been through all of Kai's Russian books…''
''What's it about?'' Raisa, beside him, tugged on his white sleeve and peered up to look at the old covered book with its tawny pages.
''It's about a man…and miracles that happen to him throughout his young life.''
''Read it to us.'' The twins said in unison.
Rei smiled. ''After lunch, you can come upstairs to the library and I'll read it.''
Tala offered to do the dishes, and, true to his word, the twins disappeared upstairs with Rei and his new book. Kai brought them up a tray of hot chocolates and desserts as his lover and the kids were snuggled up on the couch and engrossed in the story.
''I don't see why you guys are still doubting yourselves…'' Bryan said, as they all sat in the living room, again. ''Rei is doing great with the kids…and you'll do just as well.''
''He has loved children forever now…I'm still easing my way into the thought. We're going to have to take big breaks in our lives.''
''But it is worth it…because that break shows how strong you are emotionally. It's a family…it's nothing like marriage.'' Tala looked down at that finger, and despite there being no ring, he was still happier then ever before.
''I'll marry you someday.'' Bryan winked a silver orb at him and kissed his cheek.
''I'm going to marry Rei, when our first little girl is a year old.''
''Be sure to make it extravagant. And get everyone to come.'' Tala smirked at the thought of a Hiwatari and Kon wedding.
''Rei told me that he wants a real tiger there.''
Bryan started laughing and Kai shook his head.
''He is a little crazy at times…''
That is why Kai loved him.
Before supper, the twins cuddled up on the couch and watched a movie, on Kai's big screen TV. Bryan swore he would steal it, before they headed home. He put on old tapes of their battles and the kids were amazed.
Kai remembered those awkward times with the team, back when he and Rei were still only shamelessly flirting with each other. Bryan shifted uncomfortably when there was a scene from his first battle. His actions did not bother him, he had forgiven himself long ago, but the uncanny resemblance with his son was even more evident.
Adrick was naturally lavender and so was his hair. Now, instead, he dyed his hair every month a silvery shade. One day, he would let the lilac grow out again, and people would realize that the purple on his son's head was no tint. He doubted, they both did, that their secret would last forever.
Red was a more natural color; and Raisa did not take on as many of their features. Her face was more feminine and rounded. She would be a beautiful young woman, with her eyes that shifted from a sky blue to a smoky gray, hidden behind her fiery bangs. Tala loved his little princess.
While they cheered for their father's successes, and for their uncle's, Rei was in the kitchen making all the preparations. He was baking Kai's favorite, with a smile across his lips. Reading all afternoon had inspired him to make something amazing for dinner. He lost himself in an aroma of spices and meats, all combined and floating with the steam.
When he picked up the knife, on the cutting board, his vision suddenly crossed and everything around him was moving. He felt dizzy, without any warning and started to breathe in sharply. His arms slowly wrapped around himself, with a pair encircled them, moments later.
''Hey kitten…'' Kai nuzzled his face into the back of Rei's neck.
He had not noticed the sweat beads rolling down the tanned face.
''You know the rules…'' He spoke evenly and tried to sound normal. ''Not while I cook.''
Kai gave him a light 'hn' and groped his backside, before he headed back to the cheering from the next room. Rei let out a relieved sigh and as fast as it came, his nausea disappeared. He hated feeling nauseous, when he felt enough nervosa already. He took a break, from the meal and sat down on a kitchen chair, with his arms wrapped around his stomach.
The twins fell asleep later that night; with dreams of this incredible park uncle, Kai and Rei spoke of, a small drive's away. They were anxious for the morn to come. Bryan and Tala cuddled, before they snuggled up for the night, but a few hours later, blue eyes opened up to nothing but darkness.
Tala rolled over, and spent a long moment watching Bryan's sleeping face. His gray bangs hid his closed eyes and he looked peaceful, with his arms wrapped around Tala's body. He nuzzled his face into Bryan's neck and tried to fall asleep again, lured by the sweet scent of faint cologne.
After another hour, Tala finally decided to slip out of bed and began to wander the hallways. He checked up on his little one's and they were still fast asleep, tucked on the covers and lost in their reveries. His feet led him further down the passages and to the upstairs. The library door was left ajar and he slipped inside.
Kai had quite a collection of books, some for literature and others for his business. There was a desk in the middle of the room; so, he assumed that it must be his friend's office as well. He walked up to a first shelf and noticed all the cookbooks neatly piled and arranged. There were even a few written by Rei himself. This was the business room.
In a far corner, there was a sofa and lounging pillows all around it. Even in the darkness, he made out the shape of a book left out. He picked it up and realized that the hard cover was the same as his package. His fingers flipped open the first page and the paling ink was scribbled out in Cantonese characters.
Tala did not understand it but as he glanced over a few more dirty pages, there began to be images. They were all of men and some pictures depicted the anatomy of the masculine body. He thought that the book was a story…of a man…and the miracles of his life…
-TBC-
Jess (Shin-Rigel) brought this to my attention. She asked why Kai had not noticed all these subtle hints about Rei. Well, the answer is...he's a bit dim. And cocky. I told everyone that the cockiness of their personalities would shine through. Kai is very proud of all their outward success that he wants them to have the same success with a family. He's just too engrossed to realize all of the clues are right in front of him.
I mean seriously…when you are a male, would it cross through your mind that maybe your boyfriend is pregnant…ask Tala. He knows all about that. XD