I\'m a father?

Title: I’m a father?

Subtitle: Purple and gold

Author: Lady Snowblossom

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: Rei/Bryan, Kai/Tala, Spencer/Ian, Tyson/Max and various other pairings.

Note: The All-Starz and Bladebreakers, minus Kai have breakfast together. Mr. Dickenson and Kai meet the Demolition Boys at the airport and take them home. Spencer overhears a conversation between Kai and Tala; that shocks him.

Additional note: Song segments: ‘The longest time’ and ‘An innocent man’ sung by Billy Joel.

Disclaimer: If you can find a way to make the boys legally mine! I’ll sing your praises at the Met!

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“Yo! Peeps! The bus is here! Shake a leg!” Tyson’s grandfather yelled up the stairs. The old man shook his head, as he leaned against the stair railing listening to the various sounds from upstairs.

“Tyson! Get a move on! The bus is here! No! Get your hand out of there” (Slap!)

“Ow! Maxie!”

“Coming!”

The old man smirked as predictably, Kai appeared first. Rei would come next; to be followed by Kenny and Dizzi, last and certainly least, his grandson and Max. Only today, Rei wasn’t at Kai’s heels, Kenny was.

“Yo, Kai, where’s Rei?” The old fellow looked around, expecting the golden-eyed cat-boy to appear at any second. Kai grunted and went into the kitchen and out the back door. Kenny offered the older man an apologetic smile. “Rei’s in the backyard. He and Kai had an argument this morning.”

“And Rei went outside to cool off.” The old man said wisely.

“Yes,” said Kenny, who might have said more, but Tyson and Max chose that moment to finally appear. Tyson had a goofy grin on his face and Max was blushing.

Kenny took one look and sighed.

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Kai strode across the yard to the redwood fence surrounding the pool. He opened the gate and headed toward a figure reclining in a lounge chair; listening to music through earphones. As he approached the tiger, who had his eyes closed, he could hear Rei singing.

“Once I thought my innocence was gone.

Now I know that happiness goes on.

That’s where you found me.

When you put your arms around me.

I haven’t been there for the longest time.”

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Rei squealed when something landed on his chest. His eyes shot open to see Driger lying beside his new CD player. He yanked the earphones out and looked up into stern crimson irises. “Jerk! You didn’t have to scare me half to death!” His long fingers sought the off button, as he glared at the standing boy.

Kai snorted, “bus is here. Either get moving or get left behind.”

“That would suit me just fine,” growled Rei as he got up from the lounger.

“You are acting like a baby hiding in his mother’s skirts.” Kai hissed. Stung by the insult Rei snarled and took a swing at the Russian. Kai lashed out and intercepted the blow. The two stared at each other, and then Kai sighed and softly began to sing.

“I know you don’t want to hear what I say.

I know you’re gonna keep turning away.

But I’ve been there and if I can survive I can keep you alive.

I’m not above going through it again.

I’m not above being cool for a while.

If you’re cruel to me I’ll understand.”

Rei’s eyes widened in shock, and then he flung himself into Kai’s arms with a sobbing cry. The Russian rubbed comforting circles on the trembling boy’s back. “Shh, Rei, its’ just nerves.”

“I’m s-s-sorry!” Rei’s wail was muffled by the fact his face was buried in Kai’s chest, but the sharp-eared Russian heard. “It’s all right, Rei. I promise until you’re ready, I won’t let Bryan anywhere near you and I’ll get Tala to help.”

Rei raised shimmering eyes to his friend’s. “Tala?” he whispered.

“Tala.” Kai said firmly. “I’ll talk to him, when Mr. Dickenson and I go and meet him and the others at the airport.” He held Rei out at arm’s length and gave him a tiny smile. “Now, come on, you’ve got an appointment with the All-Starz’s.”

“Oh, joy. I swear, Kai,” Rei groaned as he followed Kai out of the pool area. “If I have to listen one more snide remark about my reserve status, I’m afraid Johnny is gonna be in for a big disappointment, when he gets here; because his boyfriend’s gonna be in the hospital!”

Kai laughed, “I have a better idea! Put Michael in a chastity belt and weld it shut!”

Rei started laughing so hard; he began to hiccup. Kai smirked and steered Rei to the bus.

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Bryan stared out the window watching the seemingly never-ending rows of marshmallow clouds flow under the plane. In just under an hour, they’d be landing in New York and he’d be seeing his tiger again. And he was starting to have doubts about the plan he and Tala had come up with.

Tala watched his friend and sighed. Bryan hadn’t said a thing since they had eaten some time ago, not even when Ian, who sat directly behind him kept cracking his gum; something that normally make Bryan homicidal.

“Is there anything I can get you boys?” A stewardess leaned over in front of Tala, giving him a good view of her assets. He ignored the display, just like he had on the other occasions; she’d found excuses to hover over them. “We’re fine, thank you.”

“Well, if there’s anything you need, just let me know.” She flashed him a plastic smile and straightened up, before walking away with a little more sway to her hips than was necessary.

Tala had to bite his lip to keep from laughing, when Spencer whispered dryly. “Wonder if her hips are as padded as her bra.” It didn’t help that Ian was giggling madly in the background. Bryan didn’t even turn his head.

‘That’s it! I’ve had enough of this!’ Tala thought angrily. He reached out and smacked the window gazer on the back of the head. There was a ‘thunk!’ as Bryan’s forehead impacted with the window.

“Hey!” Bryan rubbed his abused noggin; then he twisted in his seat to face the perpetuator of the outrage.

When angry molten silver eyes locked with his own sapphires, the redhead snapped. “Bryan Kuznetsov, have you finished brooding yet?” At Bryan’s blank look, Tala continued, “it’s nice to see that I have finally succeeded in getting you to return to the land of the living!”

“Huh?” Bryan blinked thoroughly confused by his captain’s words.

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Behind the pair, Ian smiled widely and opened his mouth, but a ham-sized palm muzzled him. Ian gazed indignantly at his lover, but Spencer shook his head and murmured, “whatever you were gonna say, don’t.”

“Spoilsport,” Ian pouted.

“Just trying to keep you from parachuting without the chute.”

Ian snorted.

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“What the hell are you talking about, Tal!” Bryan demanded. ‘Why couldn’t that damn Valkov just leave him alone!’

“You’ve been sitting there, this whole flight ignoring everything and everyone-brooding.”

“I’ve been thinking!” Moonlight eyes blazed.

“Brooding.” Tala repeated firmly. The older boy reached out and took his friend by the hand, when Bryan tried to pull away: the redhead simply tightened his grip. He gazed earnestly into hooded silver eyes. “We talked about this, Bry. Just stick to the plan and everything will be fine, I guarantee it!”

He was interrupted from making any further argument, by the speaker system announcing that they would be landing shortly, so would all passengers please fasten their seatbelts. He released Bryan’s hand and got ready.

Bryan silently complied with the request, Tala’s plea echoing in his head.

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Emily peered at the plate in front of Rei. It looked like a produce truck, a slaughterhouse and a chicken coop had had a collision; then someone had dumped salsa on the mess. She could see home fries, green peppers, green onions, steak, bacon, black olives, mushrooms and cheese. And was that pancakes under there? She shuddered as Rei cut into the mess and stuffed it into his mouth with obvious relish. Staring in horrified fascination, she finally got her mouth working and choked out. “Rei, what is that you’re eating?”

The golden-eyed cat-boy gulped down half a glass of tea before answering her. “An omelet. I asked the kitchen help to make it special for me.”

Michael took one look and turned slightly green. “Whatever that is I WOULDN’T want to eat it!” He declared.

The All-Starz’s had invited the Bladebreakers to breakfast at the training facility, but all four were now seriously wishing they hadn’t. Steve and Eddy had taken one look at Rei’s breakfast and promptly moved to the far end of the table, where they pretended that the other end didn’t exist.

Tyson, Max and Kenny took Rei’s strange breakfast in stride and continued with their own. “Maxie, are you gonna eat those?” Tyson pointed to the half circle of silver dollar pancakes that ringed Max’s two sunny-side up eggs.

“Yes, and you can’t have them!” When Tyson tried to grab them anyway, Max attempted to stab his hand with his fork.

“Hey!” Tyson yanked his hand back and glared. Max stuck his tongue out and wrapped an arm around his plate, fork at the ready.

“That’s our Maxie, meaner than a junkyard dog!” Dizzi commented.

Kenny snickered.

Finally, much to the All-Starz’s relief breakfast was over and they got down to the serious business of training.

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Judy with Kenny at her side, watched as the group of teenagers trooped thorough the door and looked up at her. Standing at the control console in the observation room, she smiled as she directed them to where she wanted them to go.

“Steve, since Kai isn’t here, you will just be observing for now.” The large youth nodded and went to lean against a wall and crossed his arms as he waited for the action to begin.

“Emily, I want you to work with Rei this morning; please use dish two.” Rei and Emily nodded and went to their assigned place.

“Michael, please help Max with his defensive moves.” Michael gave Max an impudent smirk and trotted to his favorite dish set directly in front of the observation room’s window.

“Guess that leaves you and me.” Tyson grinned at Eddy, who smiled lazily. “I’ll go easy on you, I promise.” The young Japanese waved his hand airily. Eddy just quirked an eyebrow. They drifted over to the nearest unclaimed dish.

As soon as everyone was in place, Judy nodded to a nearby technician who counted the pairs down. “3 . . . 2 . . .1!”

“Let it rip!” roared from six throats and technocolored streaks flashed across the bowls.

Kenny flipped Dizzi open and began running analysis’s as fast as she could process the information.

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“Be sure to record everything,” Judy ordered never taking her eyes off the action below.

“All systems are operating at maximum efficiency.” A young woman reported.

“Excellent.”

“Now, time to see if the new upgrades work.”

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Puzzled, Rei stared down into the dish. Ever since Driger had hit the dish, he wasn’t responding like he should. The blade seemed sluggish-almost like it was running in slow motion.

“What are you waiting for, Rei?” Emily shouted impatiently, she glared across the dish at the neko-jin. “Afraid that Trygator and I will be too much for you?”

“It’s not me.” He raised his eyes and stared back at the bespeckled girl. “It’s Driger, he’s not working right.” He looked back down into the bowl and watched as Driger wobbled, barely avoiding a pass by Trygator.

Emily stared at the gray blade as its rings sparked. Her head shot up and she opened her mouth to . . .

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“Kenny! Driger’s power levels are dropping like a rock! Tell Rei to withdraw him!” Dizzi shouted.

Judy grabbed the microphone, “Rei! Recall Driger at once!”

“Driger, return!” Rei cried holding his hand out. The blade shuddered, then leapt into the welcoming grasp. Rei pulled his blade to his chest and looked up toward his genius friend.

“Kenny, what’s wrong?”

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Up in the booth, Judy frowned. ‘Could there be something wrong with the new core she had had installed?’

“Get me a reading on Rei’s energy output! And compare it to Driger’s, I want to know what’s wrong!” Judy ordered never taking her attention off of dish two. Everyone had stopped their sessions and was gathered around Rei, peering at the blade in his hand.

Kenny stared down at his information. Rei’s energy levels had been at optimum, but something was preventing that energy from getting to Driger. “Dizzi?”

“If I didn’t know better, Chief. I’d say it was equipment failure.”

“Which we can’t entirely rule out,” Kenny murmured.

Judy chose to ignore that comment, since it went along with what she was thinking. “Here is the information you wanted.” Judy’s chief assistant, Brad Stennett held out the clipboard with its several attached sheets of paper. Judy took it and rapidly read the data. Finished, she spoke into the microphone.

“Emily, would you show Rei to the lab. We’re going to have to remove the core; it’s malfunctioning. Everyone else take a break.” Turning, Judy headed for the exit, over her shoulder she said quietly, “Kenny, come with me.”

Kenny shut Dizzi and trotted after her.

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Kai leaned against a pillar, Mr. Dickenson was several feet away speaking to an acquaintance; and watched the crowd flow by, his sharp crimson eyes searching for four familiar faces. Suddenly, a pair of pale arms encircled his waist and he stiffened.

“Miss me?” A silky voice purred and a tongue flicked at his ear lobe.

“Hmm,” Kai said thoughtfully as he relaxed. “Do I know you? I seem to recall the voice, but I think I need a reminder.”

“I can do that.” Tala breathed and pulled Kai behind the pillar. Screened by a large potted plant, he crushed his mouth to Kai’s. Kai slid his arms around Tala’s waist, delighting in the scent and feel of the body that rubbed against him. It was the need for air that finally brought the kissing to a halt, but neither let go of the other.

“Remember me now?” Tala whispered playfully, accompanying the question with a suggestive rub of his body. “Tease,” Kai groaned his hands flexing on the redhead’s hips.

“Your tease.” Tala traced Kai’s jaw line with his tongue. Kai shuddered; as Tala’s hand crept up under his shirt.

“Ahem.” The sound of a throat clearing broke the mood. Tala and Kai looked over to find Mr. Dickenson beaming at them. “I hate to interrupt your reunion, boys; but we need to get going. The others have gone to get the luggage, so once you get home, you can take up where you left off.” He chuckled

Tala and Kai both blushed.

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As soon as Rei had appeared in the lab, Judy had taken Driger from him and her people began to take the blade apart. Now the parts were spread out in front of her on a table. Kenny and Emily were checking and double-checking each part for flaws. The core, which she suspected was the problem, was being scanned.

Rei hovered over Kenny’s shoulder, his eyes anxious. “Have you found anything?” He asked.

“No,” Kenny replied absently, “but don’t worry. If there’s something wrong, we’ll fix it.”

“Hey Rei, don’t be so down!” Max clapped a hand to his friend’s shoulder. “Mom’s the best, she’ll find the problem and Driger will good as new.” At a glare from Kenny, the little blonde grimaced and hastily said, “not that you’re not good too, Kenny!”

The bespeckled boy snorted and returned to examining parts.

“Doctor, the scan is complete.” A technician told Judy and she turned from the group around the table, to go over and took a look at the computer-generated scans. What she saw disturbed her; deep inside the core was a fracture that had the blade gone to full power, would have caused it to explode.

“Brad, get out another core and scan it carefully. If you find nothing wrong with it, we’ll install it and then run some tests.”

“Yes, doctor.” The young man answered and left.

Judy walked over to Rei and smiled into his wide gold eyes. “The core was the problem and I’ve taken steps to see that it won’t happen again. So, once we install the new one, Driger should be stronger than ever.”

“Thank you,” the grateful youth bowed.

“You’re welcome, Rei.” Judy smiled.

“See, I told you.” Max smirked.

Rei whacked him.

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“So, the others are at the research facility working with the All-Starz’s. How long are they gonna be there?” Tala asked as he leaned back in the lounger by the pool. The redhead had opted out of a nap to spend time with his lover. Kai was sitting on the pool wall, dangling his feet in the water; having discovered the hard way that loungers will not hold two people.

Much to Kai’s disgust, Tala had nearly rolled off the lounger – laughing. After giving his howling boyfriend a dirty look, he had picked himself up off the concrete and retired poolside.

“At least two more hours and that gives us enough time for a little talk, Tal – captain to captain.”

The redheaded Russian sat up and arched an eyebrow at his lover. “Captain to captain?” Under Kai’s peculiar code of honor: that phrase meant that whatever he had to say was the truth-plain and simple.

Kai scooted back from the water and rose to his feet. His mahogany eyes darkened as he came over and sat down beside Tala’s chair.

“It’s important that we get Rei and Bryan back together and Tala, you have to promise not to say anything to Bryan until I tell you its all right.”

Tala was surprised, but he knew Kai wouldn’t ask this of him, unless it was really important. “All right, I promise.”

Kai took a deep breath, “when I picked up Rei in China, I learned something surprising about his people. The males are capable of bearing children. Rei is pregnant.”

Tala stared at Kai for a moment, then he blinked and shook his head. “Good one, Kai, for a minute there I thought you were serious,” he laughed.

“Captain to captain, Tala.” Kai reminded his lover. “Rei is sixteen weeks pregnant with Bryan’s kitten.”

‘Kitten? I guess that makes sense, since Rei is a neko-jin.’ Tala thought absently, then Kai’s words sunk in and he growled, “How long have you know this?”

“Sixteen days.” Kai answered, “and in a few days, the White Tigers are going to be here and Lee and I would like you to help us get Rei and Bryan back together.’

Tala heard the blood pounding in his ears, as he struggled to come to grips with what he’d been told. His mind reeled, it boggled, it . . . He shot out of the lounger so fast; he upset it. “SIXTEEN DAYS! YOU COULDN’T HAVE CALLED!”

Kai rose to face his furious lover.

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Spencer came out of the house and breathed deeply. He could see Kai and Tala by the pool, looking like they were deep in conversation. He hopped off the porch and headed toward the apple tree that was growing along the fence line.

He was even with the fence, when he heard Tala roar. ‘SIXTEEN DAYS! YOU COULDN’T HAVE CALLED! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO BRYAN, KAI! HE HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW HE’S GONNA BE A FATHER!”

Shocked, Spencer hurried to the fence and leaning against it, listened.

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“Keep your voice down!” Kai hissed, “I don’t want the world to know that Rei’s pregnant!”

“Bryan is not the world!” Tala snarled, “he’s just the father of Rei’s baby!” The agitated redhead began to pace, muttering obscenities as he stormed the width of the pool. When he came upon the upside down lounger, he grabbed it and flung it into the pool.

“Tala, calm down!” Kai demanded, “getting upset is not going to help!”

Tala spun and glared at the bluenette. He was so angry; he went cold. “I think I have every right to be upset! I have spent weeks trying to hold Bryan together emotionally! His blading skills are currently shot to hell and I don’t know if I can depend on him! And now, I find that not only is his lover keeping secrets, but mine is actively helping to keep that secret!”

“Will you listen!” Kai snapped, “Rei only found out seventeen days ago! And on top of that, he had managed to convince himself that Bryan didn’t love him anymore!”

“How could he believe that!” Tala demanded.

“Nine weeks of silence, Tal!” Kai walked to the other boy and gazed into his face. Tala growled and backed up a step. Sighing, Kai turned to face the pool, his voice calm. “Tal, let’s stop arguing, it’s not getting us anywhere. The important thing is getting them back together, for their sake, as well as the child’s.”

Realizing that Kai was right, Tala felt the anger drain away; leaving him feeling tired. “So what are we going to do?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I need your and Lee’s help. If it was up to me, I’d strip them both naked and lock them in a room, they couldn’t get out of.” He glanced at Tala, his eyes twinkling mischievously, “sooner or later, one of them would have to give in.”

Tala laughed, “that could work. But, let’s save that as a last resort.” Then he sobered, “Kai, Bryan and I did have an idea about how to bring Rei back.”

“How?”

“By going back to the beginning and starting over.”

Kai looked at his lover slowly smiling. “I think you may have something there: love. Let’s run it past Lee when he gets here.”

“All right,” Tala reached out and pulled Kai to him. Gently, he traced Kai’s lips with a finger and smiled, when the bluenette playfully nipped at it. “Forgive me? I shouldn’t have blown up like that.” He murmured as he used his other hand to draw Kai closer against him.

“Hmm, convince me and I just might.” Kai whispered, his eyes beginning to burn with desire.

“Oh, I can be real convincing.” And Tala claimed Kai’s mouth.

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Spencer crept away from the fence, his mind whirling. One thought came out of the chaos; no way in hell was he telling Ian! His idiot lover would go crazy trying to find a way to torment Bryan with the information and the falcon really would kill him, and he COULDN’T tell Bryan, without revealing how he’d found out. So, his best option was to remain silent for now. He went back to the house, his appetite for apples gone.

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Bryan was lying on his bed, looking at a book without seeing any of the words. Rei and the others were due back at any moment and here he was hiding like some weakling! Restlessly, he laid the book aside and rose to walk to the window.

Looking out, he could see the cream colored wall of the room across from his. Suddenly, his eyes widened, as Rei walked into view. His breath caught as he watched – mesmerized. Rei was pulling his tank top over his head, as he walked toward the window.

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Rei pulled his shirt over his head, as he walked toward his bed. He wanted to change, before he had to go down and start dinner. Starting to drop the shirt into the basket by the window, he sensed someone watching him. He looked out the window and gold met purple.

They stared at each other; then both wheeled and bolted from their respective rooms.