Kai

'Look at how big you are.' I exclaimed loudly, as I set Timothy down. I bent down to match up with his height, and the boy was simply smiling brightly at me. He had grown, and his hair now styled differently, but he was still my Timothy, and I missed him like crazy. To see him walking up to me like that, with that trophy smile on his face that melted my heart. I was growing quite emotional, until I thought of his Father being around and watching from a distance.

It was rather sad that I gazed around, looking through the crowd for Russell, just to see his face. I didn't think I missed him, but maybe I did in some way, that had me feeling quite desperate to settle my gaze upon him. I started to wonder if he had changed in any way, or if he was the same ruggedly handsome man, that I fell in love with once. I was admittedly worried, that seeing him would re-open old wounds. Yet I was too foolish, for letting myself fall into a trap, that would seem hard to get out of.

'If you're looking for Dad, he's around somewhere.' Timothy voiced, and I snapped my gaze to him, breaking out of my reverie in a swift instance.

'I-, well. How is he?' I asked stuttering like a buffoon. Calum grunted beside me, and I glanced at him questioningly, but he didn't seem to be bothered.

'He's pretty much the same, but these days he seems lonely. I just wish he would get married, or find somebody to love. I won't be around all the time, so he needs to be more outgoing.' Timothy remarked and my eyes widened at his sudden stroke of Wisdom. Though I knew Timothy was smart, and if anybody could tell what type of person his Father was, it would be him.

'I'm sure he's fine,' I dismissed as I remembered that Carlisle was near, and it would probably make him uncomfortable.

'Your Daddy is a big boy Timothy,' Carlisle spoke beside me, and I grimaced to myself.

'Hey pops, got you a drink.' Jax popped up out of nowhere, pushing a plastic cup in my hand, heavy with a yellowish beverage inside. I figured it was lemonade, since it was the only thing besides Wine or Water that I drank. Luckily Jax knew me well, because I was parched from the blaring sun, that was sure to leave me more tanned than usual.

'You are a lifesaver.' I chanted flashing Jax a cheesy smile. Ryu was beside me, tugging at my jeans and squatted down to his level, observing his now stained shirt. 'Ryu, did you remember to use a napkin like I taught you?' I asked and Ryu looked down at his feet, kicking at the gravely ground while shaking his head guiltily.

'No Daddy,' he answered in a small voice, but I smiled ruffling his hair.

'They were out of napkins, and by the time I gave him the cone he was halfway through it,' Jax chuckled and shook my head.

'Well I better get you cleaned up then. Did you go in any rides?' I asked him and he beamed up at me, nodding vigorously.

'We went on the Horses, and the cup ride!' He replied loudly, throwing his hands up in excitement.

'That's great giggles. Sounds like you had a lot of fun,' I stood up, taking hold of Ryu's hand and watched as he gazed up at Timothy in interest.

'You have Kids now?' Timothy asked with a wide smile and I nodded down at him.

'Yes I do indeed. This is Jax, and Ryu.' I introduced them to Timothy, who turned to both Boys.

'Awe maaaan. I told Dad I wanted another Brother. Or a Sister!' Timothy frowned as he spoke, and my gaze met with Calum's, who was obviously amused by the Boy's words. I tore my gaze from his, smiling awkwardly as I couldn't think of a reply.

'Cute Kid,' Jax smirked and I narrowed my gaze at him, but decided to think nothing of it.

'Can you do me a favor Timothy?' I asked Timothy, and he grinned up at me, obviously eager to please.

'Yes Mr. James!' He answered enthusiastically and I couldn't help but smile at his chirpiness.

'Can you show Jax and Ryu around the compound?' I asked and he nodded a yes. I quickly checked Ryu, quickly placing a quick kiss on his forehead and watched him giggle.

'Don't worry, I'm a great tour guide!' He spoke and I was just dying at how adorable he was.

He was always adorable, and polite, even years ago when I taught his class. Though he was all grown up now, but was still the bouncy and kind Kid, that he was when he was just four, scuttling around my classroom.

'Come on guys,' he shouted grabbing on to both Ryu and James' hands pulling them away. Ryu' small hand waved up at me as he strolled away, and I waved back at him with a bright smile on my face.

'I love this kid, so loud,' Jax mouthed to me and I chuckled, watching as they all walked hand in hand away. Jax quickly took the middle, steering both smaller boys. Timothy began pointing and I turned to Calum, only to find him watching me.

'What?' I asked and he smiled, looking away for a few short seconds.

'Nothing, I just haven't seen you in so long.' He spoke wistfully and my cheeks warmed.

'Well I'm here now silly, so you can bask in my glory as much as you please,' I spoke it as a joke but it sounded more like flirting, and Calum's odd look confirmed that it was just that.

'Are you flirting with me Mr. James?' He asked in a lowered voice that made me quiver inside.

'Was I?' I asked awkwardly and Calum chuckled as my mouth opened and closed, with no words coming from my lips.

'Adorable,' he smiled shaking his head and I pressed a tight smile on my lips, gazing away from his disappointed look.

He was trying to hide it, but it was there just like any other time I'd seen it when he tried to disguise it. I started to wonder what I was doing with my life, and how would things work out if I decided to friend-zone every guy that held interest in me. It was starting to get frustrating, but I knew all too well who I would let break down my walls and stifle my emotional defenses. Yet he was the one person that had no intention of doing so.

'I'm sorry Calum, it's been a while and I don't want you to think that I'm trying to lead you on, or trying to-,' I begun explaining myself by Calum grabbed on to my upper arms gently, halting my words.

'Kai,' he spoke with a reassuring gaze that calmed me in an instant. 'It's fine you don't have to explain yourself to me. I know it's been a while for you, and I'm kinda surprised that you aren't even involved, but knowing that you have too much on your plate right now is good enough reason. So please don't feel sorry,' he pleaded and I gazed up at him for a few fleeting seconds, trying to calm my emotions that have begun to run amuck inside me.

Calum's words had me thinking about him again so I looked around the compound, and my eyes rested on him instantly. My breath hitched in my throat, as I gazed at Russell Adams, no further than twenty yards away from me. All by himself, hands stuffed into his pockets. I caught myself staring at him longer than I wanted to, because it was the first time I'd seen him looking so formal.

He wore crisp Black Pants, and expensive looking and well crafted Italian lace up Shoes. His hair was now styled much more professionally with hues of brown and blond highlights that brightened his face. Only his eyes were dull, and almost lifeless as he stared off into space. His crisp blue long sleeved, button up shirt gleamed in the sunlight and his silky Teffiti patterned tie glistened before him. So much had changed about him, that I wouldn't have recognized him if I didn't dream about him as much as I did almost every night.

Before I could rip my eyes away from the Adonis of a man, his steely blue gaze rested on me and for a moment he seemed surprised. Instead of feeling hatred or anxiety, I wanted to run into his arms, to feel and smell him. Surprised at my own reaction to seeing him, I ripped my gaze away and tried to at least loathe him, but it wasn't happening, and I felt myself being pulled in by his blue eyes.

Over the past four years Russell had slowly gone back to the role of stranger to me, and I couldn't help but look up to see him again. He still stood there, and I foolishly started waving even though I felt that I was waving awkwardly as he stood there, with wide eyes and a slight disposition. He almost seemed shy at that moment, but it didn't last long as he turned away, with guilt in his eyes. My shoulders slumped in disappointment, and I felt my heart being wrenched out of my chest again.

But Russell seemed more broken than me in that moment, despite how attractive he looked. It made me want to go and comfort him, to tell him that I didn't hate him and that we were still friends, in spite of anything that happened between us. I shifted my gaze to Calum, who was staring off into the distance with a slight smile on his face. As if he could feel my gaze on him, he turned to look at me but his smile faded as he saw my face.

'Are you ok?' His voice held concern, but I nodded up at him.

'I-, I'm fine I just remembered something.' I lied and Calum rose an eyebrow, but soon pursed his lips deciding to give it up.

'Do you want another Lemonade? You look kinda pale,' he observed and I nodded a quick no.

'No it's fine, I just need to get out of this heat.' I lied again, knowing that I wanted to go after Russell even if it meant being shot down by him; again.

Without thinking I turned away from Calum, without telling him that I was leaving but he wasn't the type to just ignore something like that. 'Where are you going?' Calum asked, and I paused turning back to face him.

'I need to grab something from the Car.' I lied, again and Calum gazed at me skeptically.

He dug in his pockets, fishing out his Car Keys on a simple opener key-ring and tossed it to me, with a deep smirk as if he was aware that I was hiding something from him. 'You'll need those.' He spoke and I caught it mid-air, feeling anxious as I shook my head at my own stupidity.

'Right,' I muttered awkwardly, then quickly turned away. 'Thanks.' I shouted back at him and I could hear him chuckling as I strode away.

'Hurry back.' I heard him shout behind me, as I quickly made my way into the direction Russell turned. It took me a while to find him, as I walked around the Compound searching for him.

I decided to check the Parking Lot, since it was less crowded and most likely the only place he would be now that he'd seen me. I searched for the familiar Van he drove, back when I lived here but I couldn't find it anywhere. But I found Russell leaned up against a black Toyota SUV, with tinted windows and a bumper sticker that read Best Daddy Around Town. I found myself chuckling, but it was a little too loudly and his face twisted towards me and my laugh died.

'Kai,' he pushed away from the Van, taking his hands out of his pockets and began rubbing them nervously.

'Hi Russell,'

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