The Past Is Now

Ray stumbled back, pain exploding in his head like a starburst, white lights flashing across his vision. The pain quickly died to a throb and a stabbing pain if he moved his jaw.

"You bastard!" Lee yelled, brandishing his fist inches from Ray's aching face. "How dare you!" He had been angry before, the typical after-match mantra of: 'We could have done this so much better,' but now he was positively shaking with blind fury and Ray was who the anger was directed at, only problem was Ray was barely listening. His mind was whirling in circles, paralysed with shock and disbelief.

Mariah was … pregnant? It … it wasn't possible! Well it could be possible but … they had only … there were only two times it could have happened! This couldn't be happening. It was too unreal … there was no way. He was only seventeen and she was only sixteen! They were beybladers, they were kids, and they weren't ready to be parents! Oh hell, how had this happened?

"She's…certain?" he asked shakily. He couldn't handle this, he didn't know how! He was still exhausted from his earlier battle with Kai and the sudden news had knocked him for six and then some.

"Of course she's certain! She took three fucking tests to be certain! You think she wanted this? Is that what you're thinking? 'Cause she didn't!"

"Lee…" Ray trailed off miserably and looked his friend in the eye with a steadiness more due to weariness and shock than calmness.

"What?"

"Is she…going to get rid of it?" The question spilled from his mouth without contacting his brain for permission. He didn't even know what he wanted the answer to be. Definitely not another blow to the face. He crumpled this time, holding onto the blazing area of his jaw and trying not to look away from Lee's livid stare. From the ground, he somehow found the strength - or insanity, he wasn't sure which - to press the issue, "Well, is she?"

"Of course not!" Lee snarled. Ray nodded, wincing at the pain and tasting blood in his mouth. He should have expected that answer. Abortions were still a distinctly black area in Guasiox ethics. So, he was a dad now. Fuck.

Unable to meet Lee's eyes, Ray lapsed back into his own mind. They'd just lost the fight against Kai, it could have gone so much better but they weren't concentrating to their fullest. Kai hadn't ignored him but he hadn't made it painstakingly obvious whether he was aware of him either. That had put him off balance. Lee was just a bundle of nerves anyway, for reasons he didn't want to talk about.

They'd just come down from the platform and were making their way back to the team room when Kevin had come out all in a fluster. Mariah wanted to talk to her brother in private. Of course Ray had just backed down, assuming there had been some news from back home. Wow … home … that was something he'd never found on the road and now that he'd disgraced Lee's sister, his own lover with premarital pregnancy … shit, he'd never be allowed back home! He had planned on asking Mariah to marry him … but when he was nineteen and she was eighteen … neither of them would have to get permission then!

He dropped his head into his hands. Seems like nothing ever went the way he'd planned it. "Where is she?" he asked, looking up at Lee and wincing at the murderous gaze in his eyes.

"You'd better make things right with her." Lee snarled, pointing towards the girls' bathroom.

The male part of Ray's brain bristled at where he was heading but the sensible part told him that amends had to be made, even if it did mean sacrificing his own dignity to do it. Taking a deep breath he knocked on the door and pushed it open a crack. "Mariah. Can I talk to you for a moment?" he pleaded, praying no other women were in there.

"Ray? Hold me." Mariah's pleading tone came through the door. Pushing open the door fully Ray entered, locked the door behind him. After all, it wouldn't be the cleverest of ideas to have someone barge in on them at that moment, not with what they needed to talk about. He watched Mariah as she splashed some water on her face and looked at him. "I can't do this, Ray … I'm not old enough." She burst into tears.

In three long strides Ray had Mariah in his arms, cradling her to his chest, his fingers running through silky pink hair. "I won't say it's going to be ok because that would be a lie … but I will tell you that you don't have to do this alone. Lee for one wouldn't let you … he'd rather be disowned than let you handle this by yourself. As for me," At this point he moved away from her and slipped his cool fingers under her chin, forcing her to look at him, "I love you. You're carrying my baby and, yes it's unorthodox … but as long as I'm around, you'll never want for anything."

Mariah's eyes watered even more than they had a moment ago as she clung to him for dear life. "Thank you Ray. Thank you." she gasped out tearfully. Suddenly she punched him in the face. "And that's for putting me in this position in the first place, you jerk!"

Ray appeared to fly back, clutching his jaw. Sibling similarities … he couldn't help but wonder if his jaw would suffer more abuse during the next nine or so months. "I know mood-swings are during the first trimester but I didn't expect them to be so soon!" he complained. Mariah just laughed and pulled him back to her. "We're going to have our own baby … I'm going to be a mummy … and … you're going to be a daddy!"

"And I'm going to be an uncle!" called a muffled voice from behind the closed door. "Let me in!" Mariah giggled and watched as Ray opened the door to have Lee fall through it. "Congratulations, Mariah." Lee smiled lovingly, enfolding her in his arms. He turned sharply to Ray, who instantly cowered and held his jaw protectively. "Come here … brother."

Ray's face broke into a lopsided grin as he approached the embracing siblings. Just as he reached them, another blow hit his jaw. "What was that for Lee?" He cried out in agony.

Lee just shrugged and pulled Ray in amongst the embrace. "That's for not keeping your dick in your pants until you were both married!"

zekesbabe 's comments

Just in case everyone else doesn't understand what Guasiox ethics are (and don't try looking in either Wikepedia or dictionary. COM because they'll only come up with some place in U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates for those oblivious bakas). It's ok! I didn't know either and it's just something Iluvbeyblade came up with. The top line up until; 'So, he was a dad now. Fuck.' She wrote that! Clever Iluvbeyblade! And for the record, I had to throw up while writing this…het is not something to be written if you're a yaoi addict! Some of you may be surprised I undertook this challenge when you all know I hate het…but it's all for my baby…HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THE 11TH SEPTEMBER!! If anyone wants to write her a birthday present she likes Kai/Ray angst or Max/Oliver angst (Max as seme) Also despite what Mha says this is actually her fic.

I need a tally. IF YOU THINK THIS IS MY FIC TYPE ZEKES. IF YOU THINK IT'S HER FIC TYPE ILB in a review!

Iluvbeyblade 's comments:

Yeah, I made it up, yay me! Uh-huh, I wrote that bit, just to start zekes-mummy off, given her aforementioned loathing of the h-word. :P Can't understand it myself. looks down at review replies Hollie-chan, you're strange too! pokes Yes, me is 16 soon!! dancesOk, lots of reviews here, please? We love reviews. Oh, in your review, give your opinion on this question:

Who's fic is it? Options are; zekes', mine, or both.

Ok, I'll shut up now. YAY HET:P

TO:

Lamanth

Thanks for the review! I could walk through a corkscrew sideways! Mind you…I don't think the amusement parks would appreciate me straightening their corkscrews! And finally! Someone else who thinks cats wear cotton socks! One eye…closed…interesting…funny you should mention that…Mha and I had a big fight over that…IT WAS A HUGE FIGHT! Ok well…maybe it was a agree to disagree debate…WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE?! As for allowing her to deceive you…I WILL NEVER HELP HER DECEIVE MY (two years older than me) DAUGHTER! Or were you my son…I can't remember what we decided in the end.

Iluvbeyblade

Thanks for the review! How come you're reviewing your own story!? Confused me when I sent your own review to you lol! I WANT TO REWRITE THE BIBLE! I think I'd do a better job that John, Paul and thingamajig. Jon Paul is a gay character on Hollyoaks! I LOVE HIM! And when he and whatsisname snogged…I DROOLED!

WhisperingNights

Thanks for the review! It's ok…as I said in my author note…I HATE HET! It was only my baby girls request that got the pair together…and also the fact I'm not allowed to re-write history…and if they didn't get together what would push Kai over the edge? Seeing me in a thong might but I'm not about to make him suffer through that!

sn0zb0z

Thanks for the review! Yay! In the end I did manage! In the end…that's my fave Linkin' Park song!

darkness tries to take me over

Thanks for the review! Updated Updated! I need more reviews to update quicker! \uses bribe tricks/

Slightly Sinister Sinestra

Thanks for the review! Somebody's mom? Nah! My mom! And it's funny…in the end I got Tala to sound like a bastard…but Tala knows what is in Kai's mind and doesn't want him opening the box of horrors…yet every sees him as a bastard when in fact he's trying to save Kai…twisted ne? As for your name…I cheated this time. Highlighted, copied and pasted, then removed hyperlink! WooHoo!