Kai sat in his office when his office phone went off. He picked it up lazily. "Detective Smith."

"Hello Kai, it's Jacob. I just got done talking to my boss and he said he'd be glad to let you keep stay on both Misako and your sister's cases." Said the Agent that had been trying to recruit him. "Seriously?" Kai said with slight excitement. "Yes sir! What do you say?" Jacob replied and Kai looked around his office. "Do I get my own office?"

Jacob sighed before Kai could hear him coving the mic. "Yes, you will get your own office. There is only one thing you might not like." Jacob said when he came back to the phone. "What is it?" Kai asked in curiosity as he started playing with a pencil. "You'll be placed with a partner." Jacob answered and Kai sighed as he sat back. "So long as whoever it is doesn't hold me back to much. The last time I had a partner the moron died taking a bullet because he was to prideful to listen to me." Kai said as he threw his pencil at the wall, stabbing it, before playing with a different pencil from his pencil jar.

"Don't worry, we only hire the best here at the RIU." Jacob assured him and he chuckled. "Alright, fine. I'll join. It'd be nice to work at the RIU." Kai said and Jacob chuckled. "We'll be glad to have you Detective Smith."

~°~

Kai walked into a high class apartment building and went into an elevator and pressed a button for the top floor. He walked down the hall and knocked on a door. When no answer was given he knocked again but harder.

"Police! Open up!" Kai called as he knocked a theirs time, but still no answer. He then kicked the door in and looked around the empty apartment. "FUCK!" Kai yelled as he kicked the wall by the door.

He then pulled out his cell and called Morro. "The address was a bust. I hope you have more reliable information for me." Kai said in annoyance, his anger still evident in his voice.

"I'll see what I can dig up. I'm sorry that didn't check out. This guy is super tricky." Morro replied from the other side. "Good." Kai said before hanging up and going back out to his squad car.

~°~

When Kai got off work he sat in his truck and rubbed his hand down his face as a tear slipped down his face. He then ran his hands through his hair as more tears fell down his cheeks. He then whipped his face before putting his keys in the ignition and starting up the car.

Before he could start moving the truck his cell went off and he picked up the call. "Hey, Kai." Came the nervous voice of his father. "Paw?" Kai said, the anguish still in his voice, making it obvious he'd been crying.

"Hey, you... You sound like you've been crying." Ray asked in a worried tone. "Yeah... I just..." Kai said before turning his truck off and letting his head lean against his steering wheel. "You can talk to me Kai. I want to be hear for you." Ray said and Kai chuckled dryly. "I didn't call to tell you, but... It's Nya... Paw, Nya was kidnapped." Kai said and Ray's end of the line went silent for a bit. "What happened?" He asked.

"She was waiting at a bus station after eating out with some friends when she was abducted." Kai said before sucking in a shaky breath. "I'm the detective on the case, but every damn time I find a lead it goes cold." He said as his desperation started showing in his voice. "I have a suspect, but I can't even locate the mother trucker." Kai growled out as another tear slipped out.

"It's gonna be okay. If you get to stressed over this you'll start missing things you'd usually see." Ray said, trying to calm Kai down.

"I know, I've been keeping it together... I just had to break down for a bit. Ya know. Can't keep it all in forever." Kai said. "Yeah, I know. Why don't you come over tonight? 'Cuz it seems to me you shouldn't be alone tonight." Ray said and Kai looked to the ceiling. "Yeah, I.... I'll come by.... but... Let me stop by my..." Kai bit into his bottom lip. "My boyfriend's place. I just... I need to hold him for a bit. His mom is the other case I'm working on. She and her husband took care of me when I came to the city. I have reason to believe the guy that took her is the same bastard that took Nya... I... I just...." He went on while gripping the steering wheel so tight his hand started turning white.

"I get it. You need to remind yourself that he's safe. If you want... You can bring him over. I... I really do want to fix things Kai. That means excepting everything about you. No matter what my religion says, so I want to get to know the person you love as well." Ray said and Kai brought a hand up over his mouth as more tears fell, but this time they were from happiness. "I... I'll see what he says. I'll let you know when I'm on my way. Bye for now." Kai said. "Bye for now. See you when ya get here." Ray said. "I love you Kai. I really do."

"I know... I love you too Paw."

~°~

When Kai got to the Garmadon residence he got out of his truck and went inside the mansion. "Welcome home Master Kai." A maid said with a curtsy. "Yeah... Uh... Can you tell me where Lloyd is?" Kai asked and she nodded. "Yes, Master Lloyd was out at the pool and came in a little bit before I heard you opening the door. He should be on his way to his room now." She answered him and he nodded before walking up the grand staircase.

Kai then walked into Lloyd's room and heard the shower running so he sat on the bed and glanced around the room, smiling when he saw Lloyd's wall of trophies. He'd always been a very competitive athlete. Captain of his school's basketball, soccer, and bowling teams, a highly regarded member of his school's cheerleading squad, winning gymnastics and martial arts tournaments outside of school, and he used to play tennis before his school had to drop the team because the coach passed away and they couldn't find a qualified enough replacement.

When Lloyd came out of the shower, all he wore was a towel around his waist as he stopped to smile at Kai. "Hey, what are you doing here? You didn't say anything about coming over." Lloyd said as he approached and Kai got up off the bed to walk over and hug him.

"Kai? Is something wrong?" Lloyd asked worriedly. "Yeah, I just... I needed to hold you for a bit." Kai answered as he held Lloyd a little closer and the blond hugged him back. "Tell me what's wrong Kai." He said as he barried his face in the crook of Kai's neck.

"I just... It's all starting to get to me. I followed that lead Morro got me, but it was a flop. Again. I just... I started thinking... What if I never find them Lloyd? I've lost to much already." Kai responded with a lump in his throat and Lloyd held him closer. "You'll find them. I have faith in you Kai. And in our friends to. And in my uncles judgment. We'll catch the asshole that did this and get them back home alive." Lloyd said, trying to comfort him.

Kai then pulled back from the hug and whipped away his tears. "A-ah-anyway, my dad called. We talked. He invited us over." Kai said and Lloyd smiled. "That's good. Right?" Lloyd said and Kai nodded. "Yeah, um... He invited us over tonight." Kai said and Lloyd nodded. "Alright, just let me get dressed and we can go." He said and Kai nodded. "Okay." He said before sitting on the bed again.

Lloyd smiled and started drying off then got dressed while keeping an eye on Kai, making sure he was okay.

When they went out to the truck, Lloyd looked to Kai. "Want me to drive? I have my license." Lloyd offered and Kai shook his head. "Naw, you can't drive stick." He said as he got in the driver seat and Lloyd got in the passenger side. "Maybe I'd know if you'd teach me." Lloyd said and Kai shot him a glance as he started the truck up. "Every time I offered in the past you turned me down. Said you'd never need to know how." Kai said with a smirk and Lloyd chuckled while rolling his eyes. "Do you remember everything I say?" He asked jokingly and Kai chuckled a bit, rubbing his thumb under his nose as he pulled out of the mansion grounds. "Just the stuff I find cute or adorable... And the stuff I feel or know will be important to wiggle over your head later." Kai replied and Lloyd laughed.

~°~

When they got to Ray and Nelson's house, they got out and walked up to the door. Kai was about to knock when Nelson opened the door. "Kai... Lloyd. Y'all made it." He said with a smile. "Glad to as well. How's Paw?" Kai said and Nelson opened the door wider to let them in. "Paw is cookin' supper actually. Come on in now." Nelson said and Kai nodded as he and Lloyd walked inside the house.

Kai smiled when he took a deep breath through his nose once inside. "I'm guessing supper is gonna be barbequed squirrel, mashed taters, creamed corn, aaaaand...." He took another sniff. "His famous sweet cinnamon rolls." Kai said and Nelson grinned. "You'd be correct." He said and Lloyd chuckled a bit while watching his boyfriend.

"Gosh I missed good southern style cookin'." Kai said as his accident started coming out and Nelson chuckled. "Watch out Kai. Lloyd might not be able to understand you if you fall to far down the country accent rabbit hole." Nelson warned and Kai chuckled. "Hey, now. I met Kai when he first came to the city. I have plenty experience in understanding redneck." Lloyd said and Kai laughed a bit as he threw an arm over Lloyd's shoulder and kissed his temple. "My city boy." He said and Lloyd playfully pushed his chest.

Lloyd then grabbed Kai's collar and kissed him. Kai wrapped his arms around Lloyd's waist and kissed back just as Ray walked into the living room and raised a brow. "Do I need ta point yous twos to the guest room?"  Ray asked with a chuckle and Kai pulled back from Lloyd. "Paw." Kai said while looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"Now, don't worry. I said I'd except it and I'm a man of my word Son." Ray said with his hands raised in the air. "However, I do mind not being introduced." He added with a pointed look and a grin stretched across Kai's face. "Y-yeah... Um... Paw, this is Lloyd." Kai said while throwing his arm back around Lloyd, holding him by the waist. "And Lloyd, my Paw, Ray Smith." He ended off and the two shook hands.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Smith." Lloyd said and Ray waved his hand. "Please, Mr. Smith makes me sound like an old geezer. Just call me Ray." Ray said and Lloyd chuckled. "I almost wish my dad could say the same thing." Lloyd responded and Ray raised a brow.

"Paw, Lloyd here is the Prince Lloyd Garmadon. As in his Paw is the Prince Garmadon Garmadon." Nelson said and Ray's eyes widened. "Son...." Ray said as he put his hands on his hips and Kai pressed his lips. "Yeah, Paw?" He asked. "Isn't Prince Lloyd only seventeen?" Ray asked.

"Slow down! My dad signed a blessings contract. This is completely legal and I am deeply in love with your son." Lloyd said while staring Ray down. "Your feelings aren't my concern boy, it's my boy I'm worried about." Ray said and Kai nodded his head. "I know Paw. I'm an officer of the law so I get the concern, but I didn't even start this relationship." Kai said and Ray raised a brow. "I pulled Kai into this. It was my seventeenth birthday and I kissed him. After that he kept wanting to wait for me to turn eighteen and I'm the one that pressed to get the blessings from my dad." Lloyd explained.

Ray looked to Kai. "Kai, I know I wasn't the best father for many years, but I know damn well that you got both my and your mother's stubborn streeks. What the hell happened that made you give in?" Ray asked and Kai shrugged. Ray then looked to Lloyd. "When did you get him to give in?" Ray asked him.

"Not long after Nya was abducted. Why do you ask?" Lloyd answered and Ray looked to Kai, who licked his lips nervously. "Kai, when did you fall for the boy?" Ray asked. "I'm not sure really. I didn't even realize that I liked him or how much I like him even until he first kissed me. My guess is denial, but I can't answer when you ask how long I've been in love with him." Kai said and Ray nodded it was as if he knew something no one else in the room knew about.

"Either way, let's eat before the food goes cold." Nelson said while looking between the other three males in the room. "Yes, let's eat. Y'all have no clue how much I've missed the sweet taste of squirrel." Kai said excitedly and Lloyd chuckled. "Yeah, I was swimming before we came here so I'm starved." Lloyd said and Ray clapped his hands together. "Alright! Let's go eat us some grub." He said before going back into the kitchen.

They all sat around the dinning room table to eat dinner. "So... Lloyd, what drew you to my son?" Ray asked and Lloyd chuckled. "I can't quite put my finger on it really, but... And this might sound... Eh.... Weird? Either way, I've liked him since the week he first came to live with my family after moving to the city. Call it a school boy crush that turned into something more." Lloyd answered and Kai looked to him in surprise. "Really?" He asked in surprise. "Yeah... like I said... and keep saying... you're hot." Lloyd replied and Kai blushed as Nelson laughed.

"You sure are a brave one." Ray said to Lloyd, who shrugged. "What can I say? I've never shied away from danger." Lloyd said confidently. "That I can confirm. Y'all have no clue how many times I've had to bring Lloyd into the holding cell for trespassing, breaking and entering, vandalism, and don't even get me started on the times he's ended up in the hospital due to sports injuries, skateboarding accidents, and biking accidents." Kai went on and Lloyd rolled his eyes.

"So I egged a couple buildings, broke into an abandoned factory for a Halloween party, and may or may not have spray painted the royal castle, but I would hardly call that last one vandalism. The castle may be a museum these days, but it still belongs to the royal family that I am a part of. My father owns in and I am his minor son." Lloyd said and Kai gave him a look. "Lloyd, I may have taken you into the station on that one, but you were never charged. Your dad was not happy though." Kai said and Lloyd shrugged.

Nelson watched the exchange with a surprised look on his face while Ray looked between Lloyd and Kai with a knowing smile on his face. When Kai noticed his father's expression he raised a brow. "What is it Paw?" He asked and Ray chuckled. "He's just like Lyra." He said and Kai froze.

"Lyra? Who's Lyra?" Lloyd asked, confused and worried due to Kai's reaction. "Lyra was Kai's Maw. As in the one that gave birth to him." Nelson said and Lloyd looked to Kai before looking to Ray. "You... Do I really remind you of her?" Lloyd asked and Ray nodded with a smile. "Boy, if I were to tell y'all the hell me and his mama raised when we were young you'd be here all week, and I'll tell you what. She's the one that dragged me into it. I'd go through heaven or hell for that woman." Ray replied with a smile.

"I... I'm flattered." Lloyd said and Ray nodded. "You should be. Lyra was amazing and she would have been the perfect mother. It's a shame what happened." Ray said and Lloyd started poking his food. "What exactly happened? To her?" Lloyd asked.

"Some complications arose during her pregnancy with Kai. She got real sick. It made her weak so when Kai was born, she went into shock and..." Ray paused with a tear slipping out of his eye."She got to hold him for about ten minutes and give him his first meal before her heart finally gave out. The doctors tried, but..." He took in a heavy breath. "We had two other kids. Kai's big brother and sister, they were twins. They were with a friend of ours during Kai's delivery and their house burned down the same damn day. Arsen." Ray continued and Nelson started shoving his food around on the plate.

"Oh... I... I'm sorry for making you relive that." Lloyd said and Ray shook his head. "Naw, you deserve to know." Ray said then looked to Kai, who was eating quietly. Lloyd looked to Kai and grabbed his hand. "Hey, you alight?" He asked and Kai nodded. "I'm good, it's just... Hard to hear."

"Well, why don't we lighten the subject?" Ray said and Nelson looked to him. "And how are we supposed to do that Paw?" He asked. "Well, why don't we hear about how Kai found his way into law inforcment?" Ray responded and Kai nodded. "Yeah, yeah... We can do that."

~&~

A//N:
A pic of Lyra for anyone who's curious:

And Nelson's mom, Karen: