They were looking at him so disdainfully, as if he was worth nothing. "Good night to you Maw and your family," Sky said, the sarcasm so heavy, that Phayu flinched. The two of them turned around and walked away. "Ma! They were my mate's family! And what the fuck is this about a fiancée? I don't have one! And definitely not Natsu! How could you Mother? I will never forgive you if I lose him!" Phayu said, before running behind Sky and Ple to beg their forgiveness. "Ma! If Phi Chaai goes back to the States for any reason, I am also not going to forgive you! I told you! Don't do this! Yu will not like it! But you didn't listen to me! You have no idea how difficult it was for Yu to gain his trust! Jeez Ma!" Fah said, running out behind his brother.

Chailai Soikham stood there, shellshocked, staring after her two sons. She hadn't imagined, in her wildest dreams, that Phayu would find a mate. Why hadn't he told her? "Why didn't he tell me Rak?" she asked her younger son's Omega. "Because P'Phayu was afraid that you would overwhelm the boy. He is pregnant Khun Mae," Rak said. "Pregnant? With Phayu's child? But..," Chailai trailed off. "No Khun Mae. He was Phi's patient. He was already pregnant when Phi met him. But I don't know the details. Only that Phi really loves him already," Rak said, trying to soothe his Alpha's mother, who looked like she would shatter at the lightest touch.

Phayu stared at the departing car and felt his heart sink. In the one month he had known Rain, he knew his friends were excessively over protective of the boy. And that's why, he had slowly and steadily worked to gain not only Rain's trust, but also his friends'. The devastation he had seen on Sky and Ple's faces at the words that his mother had spoken had been like a slap on his own. He wanted to scream and rave and rant, but before he could do any of that, he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Fah!" he said, falling sobbing in his brother's arms. "Phayu?" his mother's quivering voice made him hold tighter to his brother. "I didn't know lu, I didn't!" she said, her heart breaking at her own stupidity.

She got the feeling that Phayu had been about to tell her who the patient was, but she had interrupted him. She knew she had been impetuous, and it was not like her to speak that way, but she had really wanted Phayu and Natsu to be together. Why hadn't she let Phayu talk? She felt like breaking down at the sight of her grown-up and strong son, who had faced everything with such immense will and determination, looking like he would drown in the deluge of his own tears. Chailai wanted to hug her son and cry with him, but she knew that at this moment in time, he wouldn't want her presence. But she vowed that she would do everything in her power to make things right. It might take her time, and a million apologies to both her son and his Omega, but she would do it; for her son, she would kow-tow to the world!

She turned to Rak. "I think both Yu and Fah will not want me near them for a while. But Rak, I beg you, let me know what happens. If Yu is able to talk to the boy and his family. Please keep me updated. I know Fah may not like you doing that, but I ask you as a mother, a foolish woman, who knows she made a mistake," she clutched Rak's hands and squeezed them, tears pouring down her cheeks. "Khun Mae, please don't worry! I will do everything I can," Rak said, quietly hugging her. They all seemed to have forgotten about Natsu, who stood there, looking disdainfully at the scene unfolding before her.

Phayu waited with bated breath for Rain to come in for his monthly appointment, but was disappointed again and again. He had tried calling, but Rain's phone went to voice mail. Phayu even went to the University, but there too he was told that while Varain Lee was a student there, he was currently unavailable and no personal information could be given out. Phayu was at wits' end. Saifah and Rak had tried their best to bring him out of his doldrums, but he had been unresponsive. A week after the incident, Phayu even stopped going in for work, and Saifah had to give the excuse that he was ill. The hospital did not find it hard to believe because Phayu had been looking listless and sad even before that.

One morning, around 10 days after the incident, Phayu came downstairs, looking moody and irritated. Saifah immediately understood that Phayu's rut was about to hit him. Rak and he stocked up the house at once, and decided to leave Phayu alone. It was when they were stepping out when a car pulled into the driveway. The most gorgeous looking boy stepped out, his body encased in comfortable, yet extremely stylish maternity wear. "Is this Rain?" Rak asked. "Didn't Phayu say he had blond hair?" Fah asked. This guy had blue hair, longish like his brother's, but instead of making him look manly, it made him look fragile and dainty. "Is this Dr. Phayu Soikham's house?" the boy asked. "Yes. And who are you Nong?" Saifah asked. "I am Rain..," the boy trailed off when Saifah literally ran towards him, jerking back in surprise at the hug he got.

"Where have you been? Phayu went mad looking for you," Saifah said, drawing back. "Phi?" Rain looked confused. Rak came up and pulled Saifah back. "Rain, this is Saifah Soikham, P'Phayu's brother. I am Rak, P'Fah's Omega. We have been looking for you for more than a week. P'Phayu was out of his mind with worry. Which is what is making P'Fah crazy. Don't mind," Rak said. Rain nodded. "I called the hospital for an appointment but they said that he had not been coming in. Then I tried his number, but nobody picked up. He had given me this address, so I just..," Rain trailed off again when the door opened and Phayu lurched out. "Fah," he said looking so distressed that Rain's heart broke a little.

Rain was well aware of what had happened at the restaurant. Sky and Ple had been worried sick about the fact that Phayu had a fiancée. Even Sig had been chomping at the bit. But Por had asked them not to panic and give the Alpha the benefit of doubt. "We have our competition coming up. Let's just concentrate on that," he had said, and they agreed. Rain had wanted to contact the Alpha, just to reassure him that he was fine, and that they would talk once he was back, but they were forced into a closed door seclusion with both their competition and their upcoming product launch. Rain had taken solace in the fact that he would meet Phayu soon. There were lots of things he needed to share with him.

"Phew! That's one thing done! Now for the launch. Thank God we won the nationals, and got this break," Sig said, as he stretched out. Rain switched on his phone and saw the innumerable missed calls and messages from Phayu and felt terrible. Ple noticed it. "What's up Rainy?" she asked. He showed them his phone, and they were also shocked. "We need to go the Uni and talk to the Dean, after that, you go talk to P'Phayu, okay?" Por said. Rain nodded. They had just stepped out after their conversation when another student came up. "Congratulations you guys!" he said. They smiled and thanked him. "By the way Rain, it's good you are back. There is a lady to see you at the main lobby. She has been coming here every day since the past 10 days," he said. Rain was surprised and saw the same look on the face of his friends.

"Rain?" the lady who was waiting stood up. "She is P'Phayu's mom," Sky whispered in his ear. Rain stepped forward and waiied politely. "Swasdi Khap Khun," he said. "Rain? You are Rain?" she asked, her voice thick with tears. "Khap Khun," he said. She immediately held his hands. "I am..," she trailed off, trying to get her emotions in control. "Khun, please come with me," Rain said, ushering his Alpha's mother outside. They all went to a coffee shop very near the Uni. Rain was surprised that Phayu's mom wouldn't let go of his hand even after they sat at the table, which forced him to sit right next to her. He looked at Sky, who immediately nodded and Sig and he went to the counter to order their drinks.

"Rain, I am Chailai, Phayu's mother. That day..," she trailed off again and cleared her throat and swallowed. Ple handed her a glass of water at once. She nodded gratefully and drank some. "Rain, it's true that I wanted Phayu to marry. It is also true that I wanted Natsu to meet Phayu. But I would have never done it if Phayu had told me he had a mate. And I understand his reasoning. I tend to be a little.. no.. a lot exuberant, tend to get super excited. He knew I could have been too overwhelming for you to handle. But Rain, had I known about you, there is no way I would have asked Phayu to meet anyone," she said. Rain wanted to just put his hands around her and hug her close. But she did not seem to be done. "Since that day, my son has not spoken to me, both of them actually. It was Rak, my younger son's Omega, who found out you study here. And I came everyday just to see if I could find you, so that I could apologise. I know that if you will forgive me, Phayu will too." Her tear stained cheeks were a testimony to the pain she held inside her.

Rain could not, in all good conscience, let this continue. He reached forward and hugged the woman. She held on to him, stroking his back as he did for her, both of them trying to calm each other down. "Khun Chailai..," Rain stopped when she cupped his cheek. "Could you try and call me Mae or Ma? I know I can't take the place of your own mom but..," she smiled hesitantly. "I don't have a mom Khun Mae," Rain said. "In fact, none of us do. Or at least not those who actually acknowledge us," Ple added. Chailai looked at the children around her and her heart went out to them. "So? Do you forgive me?" she asked. "Khun Mae, there is nothing to forgive. Actually, I don't think Sky and Ple would have said anything at all if they had not been wary of how horrifying my past was. Please don't worry. I will go and meet P'Phayu right away," Rain consoled her. They spoke for a while more and then Chailai got up to leave. "Rain, if you need anything, any of you, please feel free to reach out to me. And never think you don't have a mom. I am only too happy to add you all to my family. All of you must come with Rain when Phayu brings him over to present him to the family, you hear?" she wagged her finger playfully at them, and they all found themselves smiling and nodding. She soon left, and it was after she left that Por suddenly spoke up. "She didn't ask anything about how your past was horrifying," he said, wonderment colouring his tone. They all looked at each other in shock!

"Rain?" Phayu's shocked tone brought Rain out of his reverie. Phayu stepped forward and would have slipped and fallen if Saifah had not caught him. "Nong, he is starting his rut. Maybe you should come another day. We were about to leave as well," he said. "You can go ahead Phi. I will stay with him," Rain said. "Nong! You are pregnant! Do you know what you are saying?" Rak asked, sounding shocked. Rain nodded decisively. "I do. I will be fine. I assure you!" Rain said, as he moved towards Phayu, and helping the man inside. Saifah and Rak stared at the slowly closing door, watching as it locked itself with a soft snick, a sound filled with a strange finality.