So this is my AU Kai/Claire fic. I'm going to do my best to update this rather quickly, and the chapters will more than likely be short considering my track record, probably rarely topping ten pages in length. This is a more serious plot than I usually deal with, and I hope I do it some justice. I hope its not uber over cliché (sweatdrop) Try to enjoy :)

This fic is dedicated to Sugarapplesweet, who although she loves Kai more than any other character in the HM world, tends to torture the poor man more than all his fan girls combined.

"Goddess you're amazing." The sound of his voice sent shivers down my spine, and I could feel his cool hands wondering over my nude form. I trembled at the feel, goose bumps spreading in the wake of his skillful traveling hands.

It reminded me how seasoned he was, how many other women had felt those hands over their skin.

How man innocents had he seduced? Had I been his first? He had certainly been surprised when our enthusiastic joining had been interrupted by my cry of pain.

"Grazie," he had murmured against my skin, his lips pressing against my throat as he murmured soothing words in both English and Italian, most of which I wasn't fluent enough to understand.

I racked my fingernails over his broad shoulders, marveling at the contrast between my porcelain and his olive toned skin. I couldn't believe I was here, and I tried desperately to cling to every little thing, from the small dark mole on his right shoulder to the dark curls of hair I had only seen revealed for the first time earlier today. He moved with me slowly, helping me climb the mountain of indiscernible pleasure until I screamed from the peak, crying out his name and digging my nails into his shoulders.

When he collapsed on me I had thought nothing of it, had even gave a curious look to his murmured apology before he rolled over and pulled me snug against his chest. I closed my eyes as his long fingers combed through my hair. He tiredly whispered words of praise to me, before he finally succumbed to sleep and his soft repetitive breath brushed against my ear. I listened to the steady beat of his heart, doing my best to memorize the rhythm.

I was going home tomorrow, and I had wanted to make memories with this man, to remember the short summer I had spent in Italy.

The summer I had slept with the cook of a small seaside cafe, Kai Viento.

I shot out of bed at the sound of thunder, a small child's shriek scaring me even more than that ominous sound. I was often plagued by those memories on stormy nights, as it reminded me much of that stormy afternoon in my small villa.

"Mama!" I through the covers back as my bedroom door opened, the small child rushing to climb under them and cuddling up to me. "I'm scared," he whimpered, and I stroked his dark brown curls, pushing one ringlet from his face and smiling down at him.

"It's fine baby," I reassured him, a small pain finding its way in my heart as all to familiar brown eyes looked at me. It was my punishment I suppose, for leaving in the dawn all those years ago, to afraid to tell the man my time in Italy was up. It was only several weeks after when I realized that night, what that apology had been for. But despite it all, I wouldn't trade Kal for anything.

I closed my eyes when Kal drifted off to sleep, as always envious at his ability to quickly lose himself to slumber land. Looking at him, I can honestly say I didn't regret Italy, or Kai, nor having Kal. He was my whole world now.

I only wished that I could have found Kai to tell him about Kal. When the number I had was no longer good and I couldn't reach him I opted to write. But when I had written to the little seaside shack...I had been informed that Kai Viento no longer worked there.

No idea where he might have been, no contact number, nothing. It was if he no longer existed…

And if it hadn't been for the life I had growing in my womb, I would have been able to convince myself that he was simply an enigma, something that I had conjured up in that summer away from home.

But Kai Viento was very real, despite vanishing from the face of the earth.

It might have been for the best, for I doubted the man wanted to come live here, in America. I don't know if he could live making deep fried American food when he has seemed to enjoy making masterpieces in his kitchen- rare exotic things that were near shameful to eat.

It was really silly of me to think that he would even come here if he learned of my pregnancy, but I simply knew that man would. He wouldn't turn his back on his child nor on me. He might not have loved me, but Kai had cared for me.

Of course my older brothers hadn't thought so. I was sure if Gray and Mark had passports they would have been on the first flight to Italy to find the 'Italian jack ass' that had impregnated their baby sister. It had taken a lot of lobbying, explaining and apologizing to get them to understand that I had been the one that had used the man, and then left him. And of course I had explained not being able to get a hold of Kai. Gray hadn't taken it very well, but thankfully Mary had been able to calm him down.

I felt an all too familiar urge grip me and carefully got out of bed to not disturb Kal. After I had relieved myself I made my way to the kitchen and fixed myself a cup of juice. I stared out the patio doors as I sipped on it, watching as the lightening lit up the yard, scattered with toys for various ages between the path from my house to Gray's.

It had been more than nice of him to help me by providing me with a house to raise my child in, even if it was insanely close to his. I knew he meant well, and that was all that mattered. Gray did his best to help me as I needed it, and to be there as a role model for Kal. Mark was the same way, though he lived across town in a cramped apartment with his girlfriend Natalie.

Gray being a father of three already was better at being the fathering type, though recently Dia's impending sixteenth birthday had him on edge and moody. That and some 'punk ass prick with a pony tail' was evidently 'sniffing around.' Other than dealing with her rebellious teenage behavior, her hormones, and her burning desire to be allowed to date, he seemed to be doing fine. At least his Maria and Sabrina were still perfect innocent angels that happily believed his claim that boys, besides their family members, were infected with cooties.

And now he finally had a son on the way.

I smiled at the idea of Gray finally having a son. He had hoped for one every pregnancy but had been disappointed. Of course he loved his girls and they all had him wrapped around their little fingers, but Gray was more than happy to have a son so someone else's parents could worry about their daughters getting knocked up.

The family was no doubt growing. And with the exception of myself, the majority of the family was paired off, engaged, married, or about to be. I glanced over to the wall were my bride's maid dress was encased in a clear plastic bag. It was a deep forest green strapless empire waist gown. It was simple, and Chelsea had helped me pick it out last week.

I couldn't believe my cousin was getting married. And I certainly couldn't believe she was moving across the world. But I could understand...something about those Italian men drew women like her and I in, ensnared us in a fantasy, and kept us happily sated with it.

I only hoped that Denny Auditore could bring Chelsea half the happiness Kai Viento had brought me in our short time together.