The sun had not yet risen above the horizon as the alarm beside his bed began to chime with irritating and persistent tones. He appeared to ignore it regardless for a little while, but in reality, he was counting to thirty in his head and only when he had finished did his arm finally stretch out and pressed the snooze option. He did not really need to do this, he was awake now and would have to crawl out from the warmth the duvet provided shortly, but at this moment there was no need to rush. Just wait, a minute or so more. He heard what he was waiting for before he saw it, small footsteps running in the hall, a light switch clicking on and artificial light from the hall poured through the space between his bedroom door and its frame. Said door swung open and more light shone over him, but he pretended to be asleep, simply peering through narrowed eyes. Those small footsteps continued their race over, though there were less than five paces from door to bed and then the occupant beneath the duvet felt a weight fall heavily upon him. "Oof!" He cried out dramatically, "help, bedroom invader! Who can save me?" Giggles rained out from a top of him and the boyish voice attempted to deepen and sound serious as he stated; "Don't fear, citizen! The Kungfu Guardians are here!" "Thank you, Kungfu Guardian," Jun said, as he sat up in his bed and pulled his son into his embrace. "I feel so much safer now!" "Really?" Kei asked, tilting his head. "Really," Jun nodded. "Really, really?" Kei pressed with a grin. "Really, really, really!" Jun squeezed him slightly and Kei giggled once more. "Now go get dressed for school, I'll make you some breakfast." "Scrambled eggs, please!" Kei requested as he ran back out of his mother's bedroom and to his own. Jun shook his head. Apparently, Abhi's favourite breakfast was scrambled eggs, so now it was Keiichi's favourite as well. He would have to claim that he was out of eggs tomorrow. Too much of even a good thing, became not so. Keiichi sat up the table not ten minutes longer wearing his cute school uniform, of a white polo shirt, school sweater and navy trousers. When Kei had first worn it, Jun had taken lots of pictures, almost resulting in them being late for Kei's first day of school. But he couldn't help it, Kei looked like an adorable tiny adult in his neat uniform. Jun placed the toast, eggs and fresh juice upon the table, watching as his small son managed to devour every bite, while he ate a single slice of toast, before getting himself ready for the day. ***** Keiichi met Abhi in the playground and his mother became almost forgotten, almost, because there was still a quick last minute hug to be received before the two small boys entered their classroom with their schoolmates. Jun gave one last wave goodbye and sighed. Time to return and open the florist shop for the day. Now it was finally December, the rush to purchase gifts and toys for Christmas would now truly begin in earnest and he would be no less busy. Wreaths and table decorations could be purchased from the florist, not to mention flowers for graves; a lot of people would visit their long lost loved ones before and after the holiday.... Jun's train of thought came to a sudden halt and he felt the colour drain from his face as even his steps faltered. Standing just outside the school gates, staring directly at him was someone he didn't think... and perhaps hoped not to see again. Was this karma for his lie, for failing to keep his promise to Keiichi over the weekend? Kazuhiko had found him and was clearly waiting for him. His mind in turmoil, he could not read the expressions upon Kazuhiko's face as he managed to finally walk numbly towards him. He followed the last of the parents through the school gate, stepped to one side, the side Kazuhiko was waiting upon and paused. His eyes fell, downcast, unsure what to do, uncertain what to say. Kazuhiko also remained silent for a couple of minutes, but as soon as it became apparent that there was only the two of them still lingering around, he found his voice. "Is... is he mine?" Jun did not mind the bluntness of the question, which could not be seen from his point of view as sudden and although he did not lift his head to face his son's father, he did nod an affirmative. He clasped his gloved hands together, attempting not to fidget uncomfortably as the silence once more descended over them. "Can I meet him?" Kazuhiko asked, once his throat had cleared enough to speak. When Rishu had practically invited himself around, Kazuhiko had no idea what it was that Rishu wished to speak with him about. Perhaps his parents had finally convinced him to accept an arranged marriage or perhaps he had a promotion, but it hinges on something... or perhaps it was nothing serious at all. Kazuhiko never knew when it came to Rishu, but the last thing he had expected was what Rishu actually had spoken about. "You know that Omega you marked, what did he look like?" "Why do you want to know?" Kazuhiko had asked, pushing a small tumbler of saki along his desk towards him, before placing a little in his own glass. "Humour me," Rishu had requested. So Kazuhiko had mentioned a few things, just nonchalantly, his rough height, his black hair and green eyes... he didn't once mention that he had seen him just the other day, but failed to approach him. Rishu had nodded over his description. "If I am right, I saw him at my nephews school today. And he had a son. I think that kid is yours." Overwhelmed was the only word that described how he felt, how he was feeling. Despite Kazuhiko's rejection of him, despite the pain he must have caused him, the man he had claimed thoughtlessly had borne his son and raised him. Admittedly, abortion was considered illegal, although it did not stop people from taking this route still, but adoption could have been an option. But the man he had spent just one amazing night with, kept him and raised him, giving Kazuhiko the chance to meet with them both. Jun had not yet answered his question, but he knew he also could not avoid it. Keiichi wanted to meet the man who was his daddy and now it seemed that man also wished to meet his son. So forcing down the anxiety within his stomach, he bit out the only word he could; "Yes." "Thank you," Kazuhiko said, the relief in his voice evident. Hearing this, Jun finally glanced up to look at him. His eyes looked a little shadowed as if he had spent a night or so without sleeping and Jun felt instantly guilty once more, thinking that this might be his fault. "Kei wanted to meet his father as well," Jun admitted outloud and a bright smile appeared on Kazuhiko's face, the tears spilling over onto his cheeks. He rubbed his eyes with thumb and finger and a self-depreciating laugh. "I wouldn't have blamed you if you denied me," Kazuhiko told him. "I was not kind to you back then." "Hmm," Jun could not really say much in answer to that, both knew the validity of the words after all. Jun glanced at his watch and became startled over the time. "Ah I'm late! I need to open the shop!" "Did you come by car?" Kazuhiko asked and seeing that Jun shook his head, he suggested; "Come on, I'll give you a lift." Jun was a little uncomfortable about accepting, but he knew he would not be able to open the shop in time if he did not. So he followed the Alpha to his vehicle in the school parking lot. "It's not far," Jun advised him. "I work in a florist not far from here." He gave the man directions and in no time they arrived there. Kazuhiko pulled up outside the small shop, inwardly sighing. Who knew that it would be so difficult to restrain himself with Jun's amazing scent wrapping itself around him like a unknowing invitation. The hints of flowers and warm musk produced, it did not surprise him to known that Jun worked in a florist at all. He glanced about the street, noticing the quaint atmosphere of the line of outlets. "When can I meet him... Kei?" Kazuhiko spoke the name of his son and couldn't help but smile. Jun hesitated for a moment, but knew that delaying it would simply cause more heartache, so suggested the weekend. "I live above this shop, but there will be another working the counter on Saturday, so I can make time." "Do you have a phone?" Kazuhiko asked and Jun nodded, taking it from his pocket and unlocking it. The screensaver was a picture of Keiichi and Kazuhiko was startled to realise that the boy looked almost completely like he did when he was of the same age. From his golden hair with its slightly darker roots and his warm brown eyes and beaming smile... It was perhaps just the shape of the child's eyes and his small nose that were different. Kazuhiko tore his eyes away in order to give Jun his own mobile number and took Jun's in turn. "I'll let you know what time I can make it on Saturday," Kazuhiko said and saved the number, finally now aware of Jun's name. "Alright," Jun agreed, before pausing once more. "And Kei's full name is Keiichi. He was born 27th August, a few weeks early and he is five years old now." He unbuckled his seatbelt as he spoke and opened the passenger door. "Jun," Kazuhiko called him, before he could make his escape. "Really, thank you." Jun met his earnest eyes for a moment, before glancing downward and nodding, before leaving the car and fleeing to the 'safety' of the shop. Dammit, he cursed the man as he watched him drive away, don't make my heart beat for you!