Author's Note:

This is a very long chapter (25 pages) because as I had said, it was very hard to actually want to bring this story to an end. There are bits and pieces to the spin off in here for different parts, because I know that not everyone will go over to that story because of the rating of the fic, so for those who aren't going to, they can get a glimpse of a few parts to the stories that are in that fic.

Epilogue

The last month of their visit ended up being nothing but filled with paper work and court hearings, the stress was weighing down on all of them until the judge had finally given his verdict and had sentenced Gabriel and his husband to twenty years in prison. The court room, having been filled with their friends and ex-teammates, had jumped up in a roar of applause and cheering while Ray felt like the weight of the world had finally lifted off his shoulders.

That was the last day of Kai and Kyra's visit, even though she knew her father had meant well when he had said she could stay, she didn't feel it right to leave him home alone.

Everyone had come to say their goodbyes to the group of eight, Kyra and Dimitri holding hands tightly as they were ready to say goodbye to Japan and the others; their promise to come back in March still there for the concert. Kain had practically suffocated her in their goodbye hug, which she allowed because deep down her heart was breaking for having to say goodbye to him; regardless of how much a pain he had been.

Ray couldn't help the tears that were running down his cheeks as he hugged his daughter goodbye, feeling as though she was leaving him for good once again even though she tried to tell him that wasn't the case. When they pulled away from their embrace he handed her a small photo of their family for her locket, one they had taken two days after the disaster of a wedding outside the old Hiwatari manor that was still abandoned.

The two teens headed towards the private plane to board while Ray said his thanks and goodbyes to Dimitri's fathers and Spencer for everything he had done for the court hearings. Once they were done the adults and Sven headed for the plane as well, leaving him and Kai face to face, Kain having done and gone saying his goodbyes to his father.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Kai asked as he embraced him, and Ray nodded.

"There's still some paper work left to figure out, more insurance claims and numbers." He cringed and Kai let out a soft laugh, running his hands through the back of his hair.

"Then we'll see you in two months." Kai breathed out heavily before he placed a kiss on the top of Ray's hair, inhaling Ray's scent.

"Not a day later." Ray said, his voice muffled from his face being buried in Kai's chest, his arms wrapped tightly around his back.

"I promise." Kai said as he let him go, the plane starting up behind him.

Ray didn't want to let go just yet, holding onto his hand as he stared deeply into his crimson eyes. His heart breaking all over again, though he knew it was only temporary.

"I love you." He said and Kai smiled, bridging the space between them and kissed him on the lips, sending a spark through their bodies.

"I love you too." Ray let him go after that, waving at him the entire way he made his way up the stairs to the plane.

Kain stepped up to him, resting his head on the top of Ray's as he held him close beside him. The plane not taking long to take off once it got the clearance, the two of them still waving with tears in their eyes until it was in the air and out of their sight.

"Is it March yet?" Kain joked, getting an eye roll from his father as he led them back towards their car.

The two months apart had flown by them all, and Kain was bouncing on his toes with anticipation the entire day until his phone buzzed with a text from his sister.

"She said they just left the airport!" Kain shouted, running out of his room to where Ray was standing in the middle of the kitchen, busy doing the last of the dishes.

Kain was bouncing on the balls of his feet, his face alight with excitement for the arrival of Kyra and Kai. Ray could only offer a half-smile, nodding his head as he went back to his task of washing the dishes.

"It'll still be a while till they get here, make sure Stella's room is made up for your sister." Ray instructed, watching Kain dash up the stairs in a flash.

"He's going to give himself a heart attack." Matt laughed from his spot in the living room, Kaneki asleep on his lap as he gently pet the sleeping kitten.

"Better him than me this time." Ray laughed back, placing the last bowl in the dishwasher and starting it up. "I think that's everything." He looked around the lower level, pleased with how nice everything finally looked as he joined his godson on the couch in the living room.

"The last of the laundry should be done, but we'll let Kain get that." Ray said, leaning back into the couch more as he let his muscles relax. Matt just snickered, nodding his head as he went through the channels on the TV.

"Dad messaged me a little bit ago, said he wants to come home."

"I told him not to go." Ray answered, looking bored at the TV across from him.

Matt shrugged. "Yeah, I did too. Stella said she was glad she went to see grandma in America instead." To that Ray nodded, the two falling into a content silence until Kain came flying down from the second floor landing. "You're going to hurt yourself." Matt said, not even bothering to look Kain's way as he came into the living room.

"Nah. So, anything else that needs to be done?" He asked, looking around a second until his eyes landed on his father's golden ones.

"Laundry." Ray and Matt echoed.

Kain was once again off in a flash to the outside of the house, where the washer and dryer sat outside under the car port. It hadn't taken him long to come back in with a basket full of clean laundry in his arms, setting it on the floor by Matt's feet where he sat between them in order to fold the clothes within the basket.

An hour had gone by when the doorbell rang, Kain abandoning his second and final load of laundry on the floor in the living room to answer the door in a rush, almost tripping over his own two feet on his way there.

"Sestra! Otets!" Kain shouted as he threw the door open, his arms open wide to accept his sisters less than enthused hug.

"Since when did you start learning Russian?" Kyra asked, being released from her younger brother's tight hold.

"After you two left, I'm still a bit rusty though." Kain said, stepping aside to let his sister and father in, Dimitri coming in behind them.

"Here, this is for you. But, you can't open it until tomorrow." Kyra said, handing out a light-blue paper bag, white tissue paper sticking out over the top.

"Oh… Thanks."

"Pozhaluysta." Kyra answered, Kain's brow raising in question. "It means you're welcome." Kyra rolled her eyes, stepping further into the house where she was greeted by Ray, whom she hugged tenderly.

"Good to see you again, how was your flight?" Ray asked, letting his daughter go.

"Long, I'm beat." Kyra answered, and Ray could see the dark circles under her eyes.

"You remember where Stella's room is? It's all set up for you, so go get some rest." Ray said, patting his daughter's back as she nodded and started for the stairs.

"Are there bags in the car?" Kain asked, coming back from his room without the little bag Kyra had given him.

"Yeah, I'll help you." Dimitri said, leading the way back outside to the rental that was parked in the driveway next to Ray's car.

"Coffee?" Ray asked, looking to Kai who was busy toeing off his shoes by the door.

"Please." Kai answered, coming in once his shoes were off and sitting at the bar that outlined the kitchen Ray had stepped into. "So, Max ended up going after all?" Kai asked, getting a nod in return.

"Yes, and he says he hates it. But, it's for the twins sake." Ray answered, sliding Kai a hot cup of coffee across the bar as he stood on the other end.

"Wish he wasn't bothering." Matt's voice came through from the living room, coming out into the main room of the house carrying Kaneki in his arms. "Mr. Hiwatari." He bowed slightly, getting a nod of the head in return.

Kain and Dimitri came back into the house with four suitcases, two in each hand of the teens. "Where do you want these?" Kain asked, setting them down by the door. "Think Kyra packed enough?" He huffed.

"Take Kyra's to her, as for Dimitri's his can go in your room." Kai answered.

"Wait, I thought Dimka and I were rooming together?" Came Kyra's voice over the banister on the second floor, she was leaning over it looking down at the men on the first floor.

"Who said anything about that?" Kai scoffed, looking up and meeting his daughters crimson eyes with his own.

"Kain is rooming with Matt." Kyra huffed.

"He lives with him?" Kai answered back sarcastically. "Why are we discussing this?"

"Because it's not fair, Dimka and I have roomed together before." Kyra said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You two weren't dating then." Kai shook his head.

"It's alright Kai. Dimitri can room with Kyra, I doubt they'll be doing anything." Ray interjected calmly, making sure to eye Dimitri almost threateningly.

"Right, I wouldn't dare." Dimitri answered a bit timidly as he shifted in his spot by the front door.

Kai sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Just leave the door open."

"That's so unfair!" Kyra called back down.

"We'll leave all doors open, how's that?" Ray asked, looking up at his daughter.

"Fine." Kyra rolled her eyes, heading back into Stella's room that sat behind her.

"Where do you want your bag then dad?" Kain asked.

"Max's room, please." Ray answered quickly, getting a questioning look from both Kai and Kain.

"Alright." Kain hesitated slightly, before taking up Kyra's bags with Dimitri following after him quietly.

Kain came back empty handed, waving to his fathers before taking Matt's arm and heading to their room to get some sleep, the kitten hardly stirring at the movement. Kai and Ray stayed in the kitchen, Kai staring at Ray who was beginning to look uncomfortable now and started to fiddle with the ends of his hair that was coming down over his shoulders now that he wasn't cutting it anymore.

"You still haven't made your decision yet, have you?" Kai finally asked, looking exhausted.

"It's a lot to decide on." Ray shrugged, his voice lowered in a whisper.

"It's been almost two months Ray." Kai protested.

"I know, I know. Just… Give me some more time, please?" Ray asked, his voice pleading.

Kai nodded, sipping from his mug before setting it down and locking eyes with Ray again. "It's good to see you again."

A faint blush spread like wild fire across the bridge of Ray's nose. "You too." He squeaked, causing Kai to smirk at him. "How… How is everything back in Russia?" He managed to get out.

"It's going well, hired a few more people to take on some of my work load so I don't have as much to do. Kyra seems pleased with the change, are you going to be able to come and see her graduate?" Kai asked.

"When was it again?" Ray asked, looking more relaxed now that the topic of conversation had shifted.

"It's in May, if you can make it up for her birthday as well I think she'd like that." Kai answered.

"I would like that, we'll figure something out." Ray said with a nod of the head.

"Be easier if you just came back with us all together." Kai said over the rim of his mug, taking another sip of his coffee and watched Ray bristle at his comment once more.

"We'll discuss it another time… Not when we have four teenagers EAVESDROPPING on our conversation." Ray said, his voice rising and then smirked as he heard the teens all scuttle away from their doorways, a smile coming to his lips as did Kai's own smile.

"Should get to bed ourselves then, make sure they get up in time to leave." Kai mused, standing from the stool he had been occupying and taking his mug into the kitchen to wash off.

"You don't have to do that, I'll get it later." Ray protested, watching Kai's back as he washed out the mug.

"You've already done enough, I can tell." Kai chuckled, turning to Ray once he was done setting the mug on the dishrack to dry. "Night." He leaned in slowly pecking Ray on the cheek, leaving the neko-jin slightly stunned and turning tomato red in the face.

"N… Night…" Ray managed to stammer out, then heard the teens chuckling in their rooms. "Good night kids!" He called out, listening to them scatter to their beds once more, still chuckling.

"C'mon Kyra, you're taking forever!" Kain called out, sitting at the dining table as he ate his scrambled eggs with Matt, Dimitri, Kai and Ray.

"I'm coming!" Kyra called back down from Stella's room before she emerged on the stairs, tying her long black hair up into a high ponytail. "Where's your shirt?" She asked, hands on her hips.

She was dressed in black skinny jeans, a black shirt and white vest-tank that was buttoned up, carrying black heeled boots.

"What shirt?" Kain asked.

"The shirt I brought you." Kyra rolled her eyes. "In the bag I gave you last night." She emphasized.

"Oh. One sec." Kain said, jumping from his chair and rushing to his room, coming back with the little light-blue bag in hand.

Everyone watched intently as he dug into the bag, tossing the tissue paper on the table top until he pulled out a white shirt. His face immediately lit up, a large smile coming to his face where his fangs showed. On the shirt in big bold dark-blue letters it read '#1 Little Brother'.

"Does that mean you're wearing yours?" He asked, turning to look at Kyra.

She undid her vest, holding it open to show him that she indeed was wearing the #1 Big Sister shirt he had gotten her for their first Christmas as a family.

"You said it'd be cool if I wore it to the concert, so I got you that." She explained.

"Thank you! It's amazing Kyra." Kain beamed, tearing off his current shirt to put on the one Kyra had given him quickly.

"I thought you said you were going to get your other one done?" Kyra asked with a raised brow, referring to Kain's nipple piercing, coming to sit at the table between her father and Dimitri with her own plate of breakfast.

"I was going to, but dad had a shit fit about it." Kain rolled his eyes, taking his place at the table once removing the bag and tissue papers to the floor by his feet.

"I didn't want you to get the first one to begin with and watch your mouth." Ray scorned shaking his head.

"You should get yours done, Kyra." Kain said, choosing to ignore his father sitting beside him.

"Hell no." Kai, Ray and Kyra said together, all sets of eyes narrowed on Kain.

"Fine, fine." Kain rolled his eyes, going back to his food quickly. "Better hurry up and eat so we can leave."

"We have like four hours." Kyra rolled her eyes.

"It'll take two to get to Tokyo alone, and then there's parking and I want to get a good spot." Kain pouted.

"Alright, fine." Kyra conceded, going to eating her own breakfast before her. "Really good Papa." She mused as she bit into her pancake.

"Thank you." Ray beamed. "You'll let us know when you get there safely?" Ray asked, looking to each of the four teens sitting around him at the table, getting a collective nod of heads.

"What are you and uncle Kai going to do while we're gone?" Dimitri asked, a smirk on his thin lips, causing the other teens to snicker behind their hands.

"We have some final paperwork to go over concerning princess." Ray answered calmly, causing the teens to full blown laugh at the name that had stuck when referring to Ray's ex-finance' Gabriel.

The table got quiet as everyone finished their breakfast, everyone taking their plates to the sink and rinsing them off before they started to get their shoes on by the door.

"Be sure to call one of us to let us know you got there." Ray reminded as he stood over the teens.

"We know dad." Kain sighed, standing from tying his boots and pulled Ray into a tight hug. "Love ya." He said and dashed out the door after waving to Kai who was standing beside Ray.

"Don't let him get lost." Ray huffed, getting a hug from Matt next before the teen slipped out of the door after Kain.

"Are you sure we just can't leave him there?" Kyra chuckled, giving each of her fathers a hug.

"Be nice." Kai said, making sure to hug his daughter tightly before letting her go. "And if we don't hear from any of you we'll come there personally."

"Oh God, don't do that." Kyra rolled her eyes. "We'll make sure to call, I promise." She gave one final goodbye to her fathers before taking Dimitri's hand and leaving the house, the door closing gently behind them.

"So… What do you want to do?" Ray asked, turning to Kai once the house was emptied of teenagers.

"Can go over those papers, or we can finish our discussion from last night." Kai said with a shrug of the shoulders, heading into the kitchen to tackle the dishes.

"Seriously, you don't have to do those." Ray said, sitting on one of the stools at the bar. "And I'd rather wait to do those papers… God, I'm so tired of paperwork." Ray said laying his head onto the countertop.

"Then what do you want to do?" Kai asked, turning on the tap and beginning to fill the sink up with hot soapy water.

"About?" Ray asked, looking up at his back.

"Us." Kai scoffed. "I'd like an answer sometime this year Ray."

"I don't know Kai… Okay? I just don't know right now…" Ray said, biting into his lower lip.

"I understand that it's a lot to consider…" Kai began, rolling up his shirt sleeves before reaching into the water. "But for the kids' sake, and my own sanity, we need to figure this out."

"I know…" Ray partially whined out. "What if you moved back here?" Ray asked. Kai looked over his shoulder, brow raised though he didn't say anything.

"Kyra will be going off to college once she's done with high school, right?" Ray continued, and Kai nodded. "Kain still has two years left, it would be unfair of us to tear him away from that and place him somewhere he's never been with people he doesn't know. If you moved here, then it would be easier on all of us."

"And what should I do about work, if I move back here then we may end up in the same situation we did years ago." Kai said, rinsing off the now clean plate and setting it on the dishrack.

"Would it really be a bad thing to let that branch go, or get someone else to oversee it permanently?" Ray asked.

Kai seemed to think it over as he washed the next plate, then shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I'll have to see what can be done."

"Really?" Ray asked, his mouth slightly open in shock.

Kai nodded. "It's something I should have done back then to be honest… I just didn't know how to go about it back then." Kai explained. "I don't think I can let it go completely but, getting someone else to do what I do there would be a step in the right direction. I can't promise that I won't need to be there for certain things, if something comes up, but it wouldn't be like last time."

"You really want this to work out?" Ray asked, brow raised.

"Of course I do, don't you?" Kai asked, turning to face Ray as he dried his hands off with a red hand towel.

"I do." Ray nodded with a smile on his lips, a fang sticking over his lower lip. "I have one more suggestion." He said, standing up from his place behind the bar and came into the center of the kitchen with Kai.

Kai watched silently as Ray made his way over to him, smirking when the neko-jin began to put his arms around his neck where he placed his hands over Ray's hips.

"What if, when you leave, you take Kain with you and Kyra stays with me for the rest of the month and April? I'll bring her back in time for her birthday and graduation." Ray asked, eyes locked with Kai's.

"That's up to her." Kai shrugged.

"She already said yes, and so did Kain." Ray answered with a sly smirk.

"That's why she packed so much then, isn't it?" Kai chuckled a bit, pulling Ray closer till their chests touched and Ray nodded. "I don't mind, I think it'll be good for all of us." Kai answered.

"You say that now." Ray laughed pulling away from his and Kai's embrace. "Kain's a handful you know."

"I think I can manage, as long as he's not like you on flights." Kai said back, humor in his tone.

"Oh no, he's pretty well off on his own…. Holds my hand every time to keep me calm." Ray laughed gently, and abruptly stopped when Kai's fingers brushed his chin.

For a second, they just looked at each other, Kai's thumb rubbing along Ray's bottom jaw gently until he leaned down and placed his lips softly against Ray's own. He wasn't sure how Ray would react but smiled into the kiss when Ray began to press himself back into Kai's body, deepening their kiss. Ray's arms went back around Kai's neck, having to lift himself on his toes to not strain his neck. Kai's arms tightened around Ray's waist, his fingers digging into Ray's shirt as he held onto him, almost as if he was afraid that if he didn't hold on tighter Ray would disappear from him.

They pulled apart after what seemed forever, breathing in heavily but still wrapped within each other's embrace. Ray's entire face lit up with a deep red blush, as Kai simply smirked at him and bent back towards him, this time kissing along and down Ray's jaw line to his neck, causing the neko-jin to inhale deeply, his fingers tugging at the darker strands of Kai's hair.

"Tell me stop… And I will…" Kai murmured against Ray's neck, before nipping the tan skin with his teeth.

"Don't… Don't you dare." Ray moaned out, holding tighter to the ends of Kai's hair as he tried to press his body closer to Kai's.

Already their bodies felt as if they were on fire, neither having felt this way since the last time they had been together. A throaty purr and moan escaping Ray's lips as Kai backed him into a counter, his hands slipping under Ray's shirt and igniting another heat wave throughout the younger male's body as his fingers traced over his spine and hips, trying to touch every part of tan skin he could find under the clothes. Their lips pressed back together in a more heated kiss, tongues fighting for dominance in Kai's mouth until they had to pull away to breathe.

"I don't think Max would like it very much if we did this on his counter top." Ray chuckled, trying to regain his normal breathing pattern.

"We don't have to." Kai said, which Ray nodded to.

"Should take it a bit slower… Sorry." Ray said, looking away slightly in shame.

"Don't be, it was my fault." Kai said, moving away to give Ray his space.

"It's alright… I'm going to take a shower and then we can tackle those papers." Ray said as he began to head for the stairs. "Want to go to dinner with me?" He asked, stopping on the first two steps.

"I'd like that." Kai smiled to him, watching as Ray smiled back to him before continuing his way up the stairs to the bathroom.

"Looks like they're having fun." Ray said, holding his cellphone across the table to show Kai the video Kain had sent of him and the others dancing at the concert they were at.

Kai nodded with a smirk on his lips, taking a drink of his whiskey. "What time are they going to be home?"

"Dunno, they'll probably get something to eat on their way back." Ray shrugged, placing his phone back on the table and went back to his own plate of food before him. "I told him to let me know when they leave though."

The two fell into a content silence as they finished their dinner, sipping at their drinks every now and then before Ray called for the bill. They left the restaurant, hand in hand with their own smiles on their lips. The ride back to Ray's was just as pleasant, Ray's hand still tightly locked within Kai's as he drove them back.

"Want to watch some TV?" Ray asked, placing his shoes on the rack by the door once they had both made it inside together.

"Sure." Kai nodded, heading to the living room while Ray went into the kitchen.

He came back with two glasses and a bottle of vodka, which Kai gave a questioning look to. "Why not, the kids aren't here yet." Ray said to the look, handing Kai a glass as he sat beside him on the couch.

"You got the good stuff." Kai said as he looked at the label on the bottle with a smirk, opening it and then pouring Ray a glass before he filled his cup.

"Was your favorite." Ray said, sipping at his drink in his hand as he curled up closer to Kai's side and turned the TV on. "Hopefully there's something good on."

It didn't matter what was on, because the moment both their glasses were empty they were both lip locked once more. Hands in hair and under clothes, tongues battling it out in one or the others mouth. Ray's back pressed into the couch as Kai leant over him, touching and kissing every inch of Ray's body he could.

Ray moaned and lifted his hips, grinding into Kai's own who met the grinding with his own, his hands now secure in Ray's hair on each side of his head massaging his scalp. A purr wracked through Ray's body, his breathing picking up speed as he pressed harder up into Kai's hips. His own hands planted on Kai's backside, pulling him down harder into himself.

"Are you alright with this?" Kai asked breathless, sitting up on Ray's waist.

"Probably not on Max's couch." Ray smirked, sitting up with Kai and kissing him once more. "The bed will be more comfortable anyways." He said once he pulled away.

Kai nodded, mind in a haze, as he pulled Ray to his feet. Turning off the forgotten TV before letting Ray lead him to his room on the second floor, the second the door was closed they were back on top of each other.

"Are you sure you're alright papa?" Kyra asked, eyeing her father as he tried to hold down his lunch as they sat on the street corner of a small café he had brought her to.

Kai, along with Kain and Dimitri had already left Japan back to Moscow the day before, and so to celebrate the departure Ray felt it best to spend as much time with his daughter that he could before they too left for Russia. It had been a pleasant visit with everyone, unlike the fiasco that was Christmas and New Year's, but the departure was just as hard as the last time Ray had to say goodbye.

Kyra's visit with Ray in Japan was cut short when Ray found out he was pregnant with his third child and feeling it right to tell Kai in person they had taken a flight to Russia together, having taken Matt with them in order to spend some time with Kain before he was to go and meet his mother for the first time in his life, something he wasn't overjoyed with doing but had no choice in the matter.

When they had arrived at Kai's home, it had come as a shock to him since for once they had at least tried to protect themselves from this happening to them again, though it had failed and there wasn't much he could do about it now. He had already made his decision long before he even knew Ray was pregnant a third time, swearing to never make the same mistake twice, he was going to be their for his children and the love of his life.

Over the course of Ray's pregnancy, he had stayed with Kai and their children in Russia in order to give birth. Matthew had been sent back in November before his birthday in order to spend time with his estranged mother, much to the dismay of himself and Kain. Kyra had graduated high school and moved out to the university in St. Petersburg with Dimitri and Sven shortly after, promising to come back for the birth of her sister.

During the summer they had celebrated her and Kain's birthdays together to save on time and resources, and it was the first time Kai had ever gotten to celebrate his son's birthday as well as Ray's first time in the past fifteen years with his daughter. It wasn't anything lavish or over the top, but it meant the world to both parents and kids.

As for the preparations for the arrival of their third child, they only bought the small essential items they would need as they were planning to move back to Japan shortly after her birth. The rest of the manor had already been packed up, aside from the few things they would need to live off of until they moved back. Kai had already purchased a new home for them, not too far from where Max and the twins lived and close enough to the Hiwatari Enterprise branch in Japan, having given up the Russian branch.

Even though the two had been through this twice before, it was like the first time all over again when Ray went into labor. The roads had been closed due to the snow storms that racked the city, leaving Kyra and Dimitri in St. Petersburg unable to make it back on time, while Ray ended up being flown by helicopter to the hospital.

It was then at 11:45 pm that his third child, and second daughter, entered the world. Kai had stayed by his side the entire time during the operation, tears in his eyes like the very first time he held his first baby girl. Even though it was too soon to tell, they could already see that she favored Ray more, which he was more than excited about.

In the recovery room, Kain was able to hold his sister, his own tears brimming in the corners of his eyes as he held her close to his chest. Ray fast asleep from the entire ordeal, while Kai coached and watched like a hawk over his children.

"She's so squishy." Kain chuckled, gently rocking his sister in his arms. "Makes me want to kind of have my own…" He muttered.

"Let's put a rain check on that." Kai said, eyeing his son with daggers.

"Pfft, I'm not that stupid." Kain laughed, handing his sister to his father. "What'd you two think of for a name?"

"Ray said something about Reina. He said I could pick the middle name." Kai answered, letting Reina take hold of his finger in her small hand.

Kain smiled at the two, quickly taking out his cellphone and snapping a quick picture of the two. "Gonna send this to Kyra." He said, after his father looked up at him, getting a nod in return.

"I don't think I ever thanked you before." Kai began to speak in a low tone.

"For what?" Kain asked, brow raised in question as he put his phone back into his back pocket.

"For getting us all together again." Kai answered.

"Oh…" Kain said, rubbing the back of his head. "No problem? Kyra helped to you know." Kai simply nodded and then locked eyes with his son once more.

"Thank you."

Kain blushed slightly, looking more uncomfortable. Neither of the two realizing that Ray had woken up and witnessed the small exchange between the two, his own smile on his lips as he silently thanked his two older children for all they had done in making them a family once more.

It hadn't been easy, with a newborn and a seventeen-year-old. Kyra gone off to college with Dimitri and Sven in St. Petersburg, though somehow they had made it work. The move had been easy, and they fell in step with each other like they had always done before.

When Reina turned one, and Kyra had come for Christmas break her and Kain were relentless on getting their fathers to finally tie the knot, arguing that it was high time the two got married after everything they had been through. It wasn't that they hadn't thought about it, or wanted to, they just couldn't find the time to do it as Ray's restaurant was finally picking up and Kai was swamped with making sure the Hiwatari branch is Russia was still functioning without him.

Because she didn't have much time, her and Kain worked relentlessly on wedding plans for their fathers and even though they appreciated the gesture it was starting to get on their nerves.

Kai had finally reached his breaking point, he couldn't take it anymore and so let the two older kids babysit their sister while he took Ray out for the day, just needing the time alone together to breathe a bit easier.

They drove past the courthouse and Ray chuckled to himself, his hand in Kai's. "You know, we could just go in there and get it over with." He half joked, but he could see the little light bulb over Kai's head flick on. "Don't, you'll only make the kids mad."

"Them? They're driving me insane!" Kai protested, finding a place to turn around on the road. "It's not like we can't do something later, when things are less hectic." He said, pulling into the parking lot to the courthouse.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ray asked unsure as he looked at the building in front of them.

"Of course I do…" Kai said as he unhooked his seatbelt, reaching into his pants pocket and pulled out a small box and Ray's heart skipped a beat. "If you'll have me?"

"Yes… Yes of course you big dummy." Ray practically cried out as Kai popped open the little box revealing a simple gold band, taking it out and slipping it over Ray's ring finger.

"Then c'mon, lets get this over with." He said as he got out of the car, Ray was too happy to really care about the kids at this point and jumped out after him.

Hand in hand they stepped into the courthouse as boyfriends, when they came back out they were officially married and even though it was nothing like a fairy tale wedding, Ray was over the moon.

"The kids are going to kill us." He laughed as they made their way back into the car as he continued to inspect his ring. "How long have you had this anyways?"

"Since you told me you were pregnant with Reina." Kai answered, starting the car up.

"Took three kids and fifteen years apart for you to finally ask me, what a romantic." Ray joked and Kai smirked.

"You love me for it."

"Yes, yes I do." Ray said with a smile as he leaned over the center console and kissed his husband on the cheek. "Now, how about that movie?"

It felt like world war three had hit their home when Kai and Ray finally returned home the next day, Kai deciding that they should have a proper honeymoon away from the house and kids and got one of the best suites that overlooked the Tokyo cityscape. The kids weren't happy that they hadn't been involved like they had wanted to be, but eventually conceded into accepting it and being happy that now their family was officially complete.

The winter break came to a close and Kyra said her goodbyes to her family, going back to Russia to finish the semester, having two years left to go before she graduated. She came home again for her birthday and stayed until Kain's 18th birthday, which they ended up spending at Tokyo Disney, Reina enjoying it just as much as they had.

Before the twins turned eighteen and they had returned from visiting their estranged mother and her family for the first time for two years, their parents finally conceded in letting them go and join a Beyblade world tour. Hiro going as their coach, just because they were still leery on letting them travel the world alone, remembering what kind of nightmares they had all faced their first trip as a team.

Though the trip was cut short halfway through, Kain and Matt being dropped off at the front steps of the Hiwatari manor, hand in hand. Kain's four month pregnant belly showing under his shirt as he unlocked the door to his home.

When they had finally stepped into the house and faced Kain's parents it hadn't gone over well, and it only got worse when Max had come by, having only known that the tour had been cut short due to a medical emergency, though he had no idea it was something like this.

"Is it even my sons?" He asked in all seriousness, narrowing his eyes at Kain.

Said teenager paled, his face falling in disbelief and tears wanted to escape but he'd be damned if they fell. Matt's back went rigid, narrowing his own blue eyes at his father. Kyra and Dimitri's mouths fell, where Kai gripped the mug that was now empty of his coffee and Ray gave his best friend a disbelieving look.

"Excuse me?!" Ray was the first to break the silence, almost in a shriek. "Are you implying my son cheated on Matt? You can't be serious!"

"It wouldn't have been the first time!" Max shot back. "Matt shouldn't have to take responsibility for another man's mistake!"

Ray shook his head, trying to keep his temper in check but he was slowly losing that battle within himself. Everyone else just kept quiet, best to leave it to him since Kai just felt like punching the Blonde American out.

"You can't be serious Max… I know this isn't ideal, but what would make you think that of all things? Of course, it's Matts, whose else would it be?"

"I want a paternity test done." Max said, crossing his arms defiantly. "I want it done the second the baby is born."

"No." Matt stood, the legs of his chair scraping against the wood.

"You have no say in this right now young man." Max turned on his son, his blue eyes still burning with an unquenched fire.

"I believe I do since it IS my child. Seriously dad, what has gotten into you? You're sounding like the Shield Clan right now, isn't this exactly what they wanted from you? How fair is that to Kain, or me?"

Max opened his mouth again, though closed it quickly when Kyra piped up.

"It's his!" Everyone turned and looked at her. "I know because Kain's phone accidentally called me while they…" She looked around the room, hoping the men would understand what she was saying.

Ray had to suppress a chuckle, clearing his throat while Kai just shook his head and Matt blushed rather brightly. Kain still seemed to be shrunken and glued to his chair.

"I still want it done." Max huffed, glaring at everyone to see if they would protest. "C'mon Matthew, we're going home." He spun on his heel quickly.

"I think he should stay here." Kai spoke up, causing everyone to give him a questioning look.

"I'm sorry? Why?" Max asked, turning around with a frown still on his face.

"Because it's extremely stupid of you to believe the child is anyone else's than your own sons, and since it is his child he should stay here and provide for the other father of his child and said child." Kai said clearly, not bothering to look intimidating while speaking.

Ray smiled rather brightly at his husband before turning to face his friend. "I agree with him, it would be best for both boys to stick together in this. The damage is already done, and Kai and myself can't always be here if Kain were to need us in an emergency."

Max seemed to think it over, then looked to his son and sighed deeply as he saw the amount of pain and hurt on his face.

"Alright… I'll bring over the rest of your clothes… And Kain… I'm sorry." He didn't say more, just quietly stepping out of the manor leaving the others in silence.

It had been hard for the two with Matt working at the BBA full time and Kain working hard on his college courses online so he could start working at his father's company alongside Tala, even though he wouldn't be able to fully do so until his son was at least two years old. His pregnancy had gone smoothly, for which he had been more than grateful for and his son was born on July 25th, Kain having just turned nineteen.

Max had apologized to the two of them and had given them some money in order to get their own place, which they accepted and moved not too far from their families. Though having a child so young weighed down on Kain more than he wanted to admit, and he began to drink more than what he should have been. He had always had a hidden fear that he wouldn't be a good father to his children, because deep down he still felt hurt from Kai having avoided him half his life. He never wanted to end up like that, but it was slowly becoming a problem and even though Matt had threatened countless times to leave if he hadn't sobered up, Kain was able to call his bluff each time.

Eventually it got to the point that Matt took their son away, staying with his father until Kain realized that he was about to lose his family and he sought out the help that he needed, but Raiden was already nearing five years old by the time he was able to get himself and his family back together.

Kyra had decided to go a different route altogether, once she had finished college her and Dimitri married in a small ceremony with their family and friends shortly after Raiden had been born, Dimitri having proposed after the Christmas break when Kain had conceived his son.

Shortly after they had finished college they, along with Dimitri's fathers, moved back to Japan and close to everyone else. Kyra taking up the job she had longed for within her father's company, which she had over excelled in. The two enjoyed the closeness they now had to everyone once again, Sven having even moved himself and his wife right along with them. It had been a huge change for them all, but they were slowly adjusting to it all and eventually they were ready to start a family all their own, Sven already having a daughter himself. The two had been trying since September to get pregnant after Kyra had finally decided she wanted a child at the age of twenty-five. Dimitri had been ecstatic, wanting a child since he had turned twenty-two and Kyra twenty-three, but hadn't gotten Kyra to budge until this past year.

"Of course, the one time someone in this family tries to plan a pregnancy it doesn't happen. Dad and Papa have three kids unplanned, Kain and Matt go and have sex at a tournament and end up with a baby at eighteen. What do we get for trying to plan like responsible adults? Nothing." She muttered as she stepped out of the car. The two arriving at her parents home for Christmas dinner.

Dimitri chuckled as he got out and met his wife at the hood of their car, watching as she smoothed down her black dress pants. He couldn't help but stare as she looked up, her crimson orbs meeting his lavender as her eyebrow tilted up.

"What are you looking at?" She smirked.

He stepped closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her forward so they're hips were pressed against each other. With him now being 6'3 while she was still 5'7, he easily leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead. "Just admiring how such a beautiful woman has been my wife for the past three years."

She shook her head with a laugh, knowing he was just doing this to make her feel better. She pushed up onto her tip-toes, kissing his lips softly. "Thank you."

Just as the two were finally relaxing, a snowball hit Kyra's shoulder, causing her to jump back from Dimitri and look up to see Kain standing at the front door of the new Hiwatari mansion.

"Hey lovebirds! Hurry the hell up and get inside! We're all hungry!" He yelled, grinning at his enraged sister.

She shook her head, crinkling her nose in annoyance. "You'd think he'd be more mature with being a father at twenty-three."

Dimitri took her hand, slowly starting to lead her inside. "Come on, we can't stall forever."

"We could try." She pouted, finally allowing herself to be led inside to meet the source of her current anxieties, their family.

A lot had changed since their blading days. Kyra held the position of Chief Operating Officer of Hiwatari Enterprises, working closely with Kai to deliver and create products, as well as market the company in a way that would appeal more to younger clientele. Dimitri had decided to move away from following in his fathers' footsteps in the Hiwatari company and had pursued a career in graphic design, creating art and logos for various companies. Kain had begun working alongside Tala in the Human Resources department of Hiwatari Enterprises. As for the twins, Matt had taken a job as coach within the BBA while Stella was a journalist for a multi-media company in America.

The dinner consisted of both Kyra and Dimitri's sets of parents, as well as Kain, Matt, their son, and Reina, who was now nine. After dinner, Kain and Matt decided to head out to go over to Max's to spend time with him and Stella while Reina went to play with her gifts in her room. This left Kyra and Dimitri with both sets of parents questioning them about their lives.

"So, how are things going for the two of you?" Tala questioned, ice blue eyes darting between the two of them.

"Good. I've been getting a lot of commissions lately which has inspired some really interesting work. We've also finally gotten everything moved into the apartment which is a bonus." Dimitri smiled, taking Kyra's hand as she sipped the red wine, she'd poured herself.

"Assuming that means you're not pregnant?" Tala frowned, motioning to the wine glass.

Kyra's expression automatically went from blank to a mixture of upset and frustrated.

"Papa, what did I tell you?" Dimitri sighed with a head shake.

"What? Is it so bad that I'm excited to have a grandchild? I mean, I thought it would've happened by now since the two of you have been trying since October." Tala went on, not noticing his daughter in-law's discomfort.

"September actually." Kyra murmured.

Ray frowned, going to sit by his daughter. Since being reunited when she was seventeen, the two had become quite close. Still not as close as her and Kai's bond, but close enough that she would allow him to comfort her.

"Sweetheart, as excited as I am for you to start a family, stressing yourself out about it isn't going to help. It will happen when it's meant to and when it does, we'll all be here to welcome them into the world." He smiled, putting his arm around her lovingly.

Kai nodded, watching the two from his spot on the loveseat. "He's right. Although I don't really think you need a child, you shouldn't be putting added stress on yourself for it to happen at a certain time. I know you like to have things planned, but this is one thing you can't always plan."

She rested her head against her Papa's shoulder, giving a smile of thanks to her Dad. "I guess so. I mean, the two of you have proved that the best things can't be planned." She joked, causing a scowl of disapproval from Kai.

"Watch it or I'm sending you home in a cab." He huffed.

That night, unbeknownst to her, she had conceived her first child and daughter, not wanting to hold out hope that she actually was she had refused to test until mid-January.

"Kyra, that's the third time you've been sick today. I think you should try taking a test." Dimitri said softly, crouching beside her and offering her the glass of water.

She accepted it, drinking slowly before shaking her head. "It's not that. It's just stress. Things have picked up at work and I've barely had time to eat most days. My body is just reacting to the change."

Sven came over, popping his head through the door frame. "Has this been happening a lot?"

"Yes. All week." Dimitri sighed, narrowing his eyes at his stubborn wife. He had been trying to convince her to take a test since the third day of her being sick, but she had refused. Now they were on the fifth day and it seemed to be getting worse instead of better.

"I'm telling you, it's just stress. I've already decided that me being pregnant isn't going to happen." She stated.

"You never know. The same thing happened for Natasha and then a couple weeks after she said she was giving up, she found out she was pregnant with Dominic. I mean, is it really going to hurt anything to take a test?" Sven asked.

"Yeah. If it's negative, then you just got my hopes up all week for nothing." She frowned, taking a seat on the side of the tub.

"But what if it's positive? Please, just take the test. For me?" Dimitri asked as he rested his arms on her thighs.

"Fine. But if it's negative, you're never going to hear the end of this."

It had been a couple of minutes, the two Russian men not hearing anything as they stood outside the bathroom waiting.

"Kyra? Is everything okay?" Dimitri called.

The door swung open, her crimson eyes filled with tears as she held up the pregnancy test in disbelief. "I-it's positive."

"What?! We're going to be parents?" Dimitri cried, his eyes welling up with tears. She nodded, causing him to wrap his arms tightly around her, cradling her head on his chest.

"I'm going to be an uncle!" Sven cheered, pulling both ex-Blitzkrieg bladers into his embrace.

The three sat around the kitchen table again, still buzzing from the news.

"So, when are you going to tell everyone? Isn't there some rule that you shouldn't say anything till after three months?" Sven asked.

"That's more up to the person. I'm not sure though. I mean, I wouldn't mind telling Papa and Dad, but Tala is a completely different story." Kyra sighed, already knowing her father in law would be obsessing over this the entire nine months of her pregnancy. He had been so insistent on having his first grandchild that she was a bit worried of how he would be once he found out.

Dimitri smirked and gave a nod. "Yeah Papa is going to lose it. I think Dad is going to be the one with the least reaction. He's never really been a baby person from what Papa has said. Even when I was a baby, he was always scared to hold me apparently."

"Well, I feel honoured to be the first to know and also to be the godfather." Sven grinned, starting to laugh when Kyra made a face at him.

"Who said you were the godfather?" She questioned.

"Me, since I know you have very few other people that you'd actually trust with your kid."

"What makes you think I'd even trust you with my kid?" Kyra smirked.

"Wow, maternal instincts kicking in already. Have fun for the next nine months, Dimitri. If it's anything like Natasha's pregnancy, you're in for a hell of a ride." He shook his head, trying to push back the memories of his pregnant wife.

"Why? I thought you said having Dominic was great?" Dimitri frowned.

"Oh, it was. The end result is great, it's just the road to get there that sucks. Constant morning sickness, her wanting the weirdest things then not eating them when I finally got them. There was one time she went from crying, to screaming at me, to overjoyed in a span of half an hour. The hormones do crazy shit, man."

"I'm sure I'll be fine. I mean, I saw Kain go through his pregnancy and he had it pretty easy. I'm sure if he can do it, I can too." She said confidently.

"Babe, he didn't even have morning sickness and you are. I wouldn't jinx yourself." Dimitri cautioned, putting a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"I'll be fine. The nine months will fly by." She assured, trying to ignore the churning in her stomach before finally giving in and running to the bathroom for the fourth time that day.

Dimitri got up, filling a glass of water again and following her as he heard Sven speak again.

"Told you, Dimka. This is just the beginning."

It had been a hard pregnancy for her, having to put work before herself and her unborn child almost constantly. When she was four months she ended up in the hospital because of pain in her abdomen, surrounded by her family she had been given strict orders to work less and eat more, if she wanted to make sure her baby would survive. She had done what the doctor had said, but that didn't stop her daughter from being born a month early. She was just happy that she had been at her parents home and that Ray had been there to help her as Dimitri became almost useless as she went into labor in the middle of the night.

Their daughter Natalia Rose Ivanov had been born on August 19th, Ray had been there beside his daughter through it all and he hadn't been more proud of her. Everyone had beamed with excitement to know that mother and baby had done well and were doing well, and even though Tala was ready for another grandchild Kyra had decided that one was enough for her, not ever wanting to endure pregnancy again.

Though her plans had changed three years later when she, along with Kain, had conceived on their birthday cruise. This time it had been reversed, Kain had been wanting another child, though he hadn't been expecting to get pregnant with twins, while Kyra's was a surprise to her since she hadn't really been trying.

Kain felt that it was an exciting thing, to have been pregnant alongside his sister, though it was really the last thing she had wanted to ever do, but Dimitri's excitement was enough for her in order to go through with it.

This time she had been at her own home when she went into labor a day before Kain, though he had been in and out before she had even had her son, while he was already holding his two new little boys; Mason and Kail. Like before Ray had been there with her when her son, Nicolai, had been born and this time on the due date that had been given.

"I'm done, I don't want to do this again." She groaned out, holding her three-hour old boy in her arms, her three-year-old daughter sleeping in Dimitri's arms.

To her dismay, she and Kain had been given a shared recovery room, though it was easier for everyone else instead of having to run back and forth from one room to the other.

"Really? C'mon, it's not that bad." Kain said from his bed, helping Raiden to hold his brother Mason, at least they thought it was him since the twins were identical.

"Says you, how do you get all the luck with easy pregnancies? It's not fair." She whined out at him, her crimson eyes narrowing at him.

"I agree, it's not fair at all." Ray said, holding the other twin in his arms at the foot of Kain's bed.

"Just lucky I guess." Kain shrugged. "Wouldn't mind one more though." He said, giving his husband a cheeky grin. The two having finally gotten married not even a month before their sons were born, much to the excitement of their parents.

"How many do you need?" Kyra laughed out.

"I want a girl." Kain protested with a pout. "Besides, I want my kids to have a big family like what we had." He said while gesturing to Matt.

"Fair enough." Kyra said as she nodded in understanding.

A year later Kain's wish had been granted and he had a daughter, Mei Ann Hiwatari, using his sisters and Stella's middle names. His family was complete, all around and even though it had been hard, almost unbearable at times, he was happy and content with how his life had turned out. Never would he have thought that he would have become a parent so young, make the same mistakes his parents had made, but that hadn't stopped him from trying to make things right.

Kai had understood completely where he was coming from, and he was more than proud of seeing his older children doing well with their own families, still forever grateful for all they had done for them. Of course, if he could have, he would have gone back much sooner, avoided the heart ache he had inflicted upon his family, but in the end he had them now and that was all that mattered.

Every birthday, every major holiday, he was surrounded by his family and friends, and even though the manor was packed to the brim, he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Taking Ray's hand and leading him out to the back porch for some much-needed air, he wrapped his arms around his husbands shoulders as he stood behind him, watching the snow as it gently fell to the ground covering their backyard; leaving the hustle and bustle of their very large and extended family inside the manor after finishing the large Christmas feast Ray, Tala, and Kain had prepared.

Ray purred contently for him, his body vibrating against him and Kai tightened his embrace around him. Warm enough between their shared body heat they held each other for as long as they could, reveling in their happiness together.