Aten slipped under the covers and pressed himself against Robbie. Robbie wrapped his arms around Aten and held him against his chest.

Both boys shivered as their skin made physical contact.

Robbie caressed Aten’s hair, hearing Hayden’s sobs in the other room.

Aten heard Robbie sniffle and looked up at him. “Robbie?”

Robbie’s lip trembled. “I want to go home, Aten.”

Aten reached up and cupped Robbie’s cheek in his trembling little hand. “Don’t cry, Robbie. I don’t like to see you cry.”

Robbie’s blue eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know how much longer I can stay here! I want my mommy and daddy!”

Aten’s brown and purple eyes filled with tears. “I miss my mommy and daddy, too. But, I’m glad I have you, Robbie.”

Robbie and Aten stared into each other’s eyes, searching for comfort in each other’s presence. Aten bit his lip as his hands descended to Robbie’s chest. Aten’s fingers brushed against Robbie’s white skin. Robbie’s hands moved to Aten’s Egyptian tan skin.

The blue-eyed boy leaned down to Aten. The boys stopped just before their lips could meet.

“Aten.”

“Robbie.”

Robbie and Aten closed their eyes and pressed their lips together. Robbie and Aten felt identical teardrops slip down their cheeks as they kissed.

The Egyptian boy slowly opened his mouth to allow Robbie to enter him. Robbie’s hand brushed lower over one of Aten’s nipples. A whimper escaped Aten’s throat and the boy froze momentarily.

Aten opened his eyes to prove to himself who was kissing him.

It wasn’t Steven….It wasn’t his grandfather kissing him. It wasn’t Tim. It wasn’t a woman.

It was Robbie.

His friend.

Robbie opened his icy-blue eyes to look his friend in the eyes. His body started to become hot under his friend’s touch. Aten heard Robbie moan into the kiss.

Aten slowly pulled back from the kiss. Robbie looked down at him and smiled. Robbie’s hands moved lower to Aten’s stomach and rubbed it.

“Aten? Are you okay? I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you if I did.”

Aten looked up at Robbie and bit his lip. “No, you didn’t scare me. I enjoyed it.”

Robbie nodded. “So did I. I never kissed anyone like that but you.”

“You never did?”

Robbie blushed. “I…I…I wanted you to be my first real kiss, Aten.”

“I wanted you to be my first kiss, too, Robbie. I wondered what it would be like.”

Robbie smiled. “Would you like to do it again?”

Aten nodded even as the thought of his grandfather hovered in the back of his subconscious.

Robbie and Aten pressed their lips together again. Aten moaned into the kiss as his grandfather’s voice resonated in his head.

//You belong to me, Aten. No one will own you like I own you.//

Aten’s eyes clenched tightly against the sound of Steven in his head.

/No! I belong to Robbie! I will always belong to Robbie! You can’t haunt me anymore!/

//I will, Aten. I will own you until you take your dying breath.//

Robbie moaned as Aten’s hand slipped below his chest to rub Robbie’s belly.

The Egyptian slipped lower, caressing below Robbie’s belly button. Robbie’s face turned red as he felt his body react to Aten’s caress.

Robbie pulled back from the kiss, looking into his friend’s eyes. “It’s okay, Aten. If you want to touch me, you can.”

Aten bit his lip, his body starting to shiver slightly from as much fear as anticipation. “You’ll let me?”

“If you want to touch me, you can, Aten. I trust you.”

Aten nodded. “If you want to touch me, you can, too, Robbie. I…I…I tru…trus…I know you won’t hurt me. But, if you do hurt me, it’s okay.”

Robbie shook his head. “I would never hurt you, Aten. Do you trust me?”

Aten looked into the blue eyes. This was Robbie. He could be trusted….couldn’t he?

Aten nodded, trying to take his fear and shove it down. “Yes,” Aten said quietly.

They looked into each other’s eyes, their hands roaming slowly over their exposed chests and stomachs.

Robbie’s hands quivered as he touched Aten’s tan skin. It was warm and soft, even with Aten’s ribs protruding from his sides.

Aten’s fingers glided over Robbie’s chest, exploring uncertainly.

They had done this numerous times since they were three. They would lay in bed touching and caressing each other, exploring how each other’s touch made them feel. They would lie in bed and just touch each other with no other reason than to explore.

But now as they laid side-by-side, both boy began experiencing an emotion beyond mere childish exploration.

What this emotion was, neither could tell.

Aten tilted his head up and kissed Robbie again as a wave of fear crashed into him.

/This isn’t my grandfather…It isn’t him. This is Robbie./

Aten’s fingers drifted across Robbie’s right nipple and the dark-haired boy whimpered from the sensation.

Aten clenched his eyes shut. He remembered being made to touch his grandfather this way….and he wanted to run.

/This is Robbie….This is Robbie….Uh-oh….I think…I think I’m becoming stiff. Oh, shit./

Aten felt something poke against him through the boxers.

He looked down below the sheets and Robbie’s entire body turned red.

Aten looked up at Robbie as his hands drifted lower to the edge of Robbie’s boxers. Robbie’s hands wandered as low as Aten’s hands, touching the tanned skin just above Aten’s boxers.

“Robbie?”

“Aten?”

Aten bit his lip nervously. “Can I…can I touch you?”

Robbie nodded, unable to speak a coherent sentence as ecstasy flowed through him.

Aten’s hand lowered slowly to the front of Robbie’s boxers. He buried his head in Robbie’s chest as he rubbed Robbie slowly through the material.

Robbie’s hand raised and stroked Aten’s cheek as he felt Aten tremble.

“It’s okay, Aten. You can stop if you’re scared. I’ll understand.”

Aten shook his head. “No, I don’t want to stop.”

Aten lifted his head. “Robbie….do you want to touch me?”

Robbie blushed further. “Yeah…I do.”

Aten shifted and pulled down his boxers, knowing he’d be petrified if Robbie stroked him through the material.

“You can touch me if you want, Robbie,” Aten said, trying to quell his relentless fear.

“Tell me to stop if you want me to stop.”

Aten nodded. He grabbed Robbie’s wrist, his entire body trembling with a mixture of anticipation and fear. “Promise me you will stop when I tell you to.”

Robbie nodded, seeing the fear in Aten’s eyes. “I promise to stop when you tell me to.”

Aten looked up at Robbie and released his wrist.

Aten put his hand on Robbie’s arm as Robbie’s hands touched Aten’s length.

The boy took a deep breath as he felt his friend’s hand wrapping around him and touching him slowly.

“Are you okay, Aten?”

Aten nodded. “Yeah.”

Robbie pulled back a little, seeing Aten close his eyes tightly and a little fearful whimper come from him.

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No….don’t stop,” the Egyptian boy muttered breathlessly.

Aten took a deep breath and snaked his hand under Robbie’s boxers. With a single finger, he touched Robbie cautiously.

//Touch me, Aten. Your mommy won’t eat tonight if you don’t. This is what a REAL man feels like.//

Aten buried his face in Robbie’s chest, sweat forming on his forehead from Robbie’s actions and his memories. ‘This is Robbie….This is Robbie…’

Aten’s hand slipped further down, taking Robbie in his hands.

“Aten,” Robbie whispered lovingly in Aten’s ear. “Feels good.”

Aten nodded. “Yes….it does.”

//The world doesn’t need any more of YOUR kind, Aten!//

Aten cringed. ‘But I love Robbie. Is this wrong?’

Robbie leaned down and kissed Aten’s cheek. Aten felt the warmth of Robbie’s lips press lightly against the side of his neck.

This action quelled his fears a little, feeling his friend’s welcoming lips against his skin.

Aten kissed Robbie’s chest and felt himself go weak under Robbie’s gentle touch.

Robbie and Aten panted heavily as their hands explored each other underneath the material. Their bodies turned red and flushed from the sensations flowing through them.

Robbie let out a little moan, pressing himself closer to Aten.

The Egyptian shuddered as he felt Robbie become stiffer as he touched him.

“Aten? Are you okay?”

Aten nodded. “Yes…I’m…..okay.”

Robbie looked into Aten brown and purple eye intently. “Are you sure? You seem….afraid.”

//Aten…you feel so good inside.//

“Umm…no…I’m okay.”

//My sexy little grandson.//

“Really?”

Aten nodded. “Yes.”

“We can stop, Aten, if you want. Do you want to stop?”

Aten looked up at those icy-blue eyes. “Go…slower, Robbie.”

Robbie nodded. “I can do that. Sorry, I thought I was going slow. Did I hurt you?”

“No.”

Robbie sighed in relief. “That’s good. I would never hurt you, Aten. You know that, right?”

Aten nodded. “I know, Robbie.” Aten rested his head against Robbie’s chest, feeling Robbie’s slow hands touch him and glide over every part of him.

He felt something tighten in his gut that he couldn’t explain. His entire body began swimming in pleasure. His body trembled as he neared completion. Then the sensation was gone as quickly as it had arrived. Then, he felt himself losing his stiffness.

‘What’s going on? Why is this happening? I shouldn’t be getting this way yet,’ Aten thought in a panic.

Robbie looked down. “Aten? Did you…..?”

Aten shrugged. “I don’t think so.”

Robbie shifted his eyes away. ‘I didn’t think he was attracted to me.’

Robbie removed his hand from Aten’s boxers. “Aten? Is it….me?”

“What?”

“Do you….find me attractive?”

The Egyptian nodded. “Of course I do, Robbie! This isn’t….because of you. Maybe I’m just….tired.”

‘Who am I kidding? Robbie can see right through me. He always has.’

Robbie smiled at Aten. “Aww…are you tired, Aten?”

The boy looked down at where his hand had disappeared beneath Robbie’s boxers. “What about you?”

“Me? I’m not important, Aten. If you are tired, we can go to sleep.”

Aten pulled his hand out from Robbie’s boxers and found the air chilly. His hand was wet. “Robbie?”

Robbie looked down. “Yikes! Sorry, Aten. I didn’t know!” Robbie rolled off of the bed and his boxers fell around his ankles. “Oops!” Robbie grabbed a towel that he used after his bath that night and gave it to Aten. “I’m sorry, Aten!” The black haired boy invented a new shade of red.

Aten dried his hand off quickly, trying to keep his composure. “It’s okay, Robbie. What about you?”

“I’m dry as a bone over here,” the blue-eyed boy said sitting on the bed. “Aten? I’m….I’m glad we could………you know…..do that….with…each other.”

Aten dropped the towel on the floor and sat up. “I…I really enjoyed that, Robbie. Nobody….has ever touched me…. the way that you do.”

Robbie laid beside his friend. “You’ve been with other people? I didn’t know that.”

Aten shifted his gaze away. “It was nothing, Robbie.”

//You are MINE, Aten!//

“Did someone hurt you, Aten? You seemed really scared when I touched you.”

Aten turned his head away. “It was nobody you know, Robbie.”

“Then someone did hurt you. Who was it?”

Aten stood up and laid in bed, facing away from Robbie. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Robbie sighed and slipped into bed. Robbie cuddled up against Aten’s back. He kissed his friend on the back of the neck. “Aten, it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Aten turned around. Without a word, he pressed himself against Robbie and buried his face in Robbie’s chest. “Hold me, Robbie….please.”

Robbie wrapped his arms around Aten. “Aten, you never have to ask for me to hold you. I always will.”

Aten sniffled. “Thank you, Robbie. I loved…being with you tonight.”

Robbie kissed Aten’s forehead. “So did I, Aten.”

‘I love you, Aten.’

‘I will love you until my dying day, Robbie. I promise.’

**************************

Aria opened her eyes as her mindlink to her brother burst open. She looked around as she felt a hand on her.

‘I’m alone. Why do I feel like someone is touching me…..there?’

She turned around and feelings of pleasure spread throughout her. She felt herself breathing heavier, her body reacting to an unknown touch.

Then, it came…..

[Robbie……]

Aria’s eyes opened wide as she felt a hand on her fall lower, touching her between her legs.

[[Aten, what the heck are you doing????????]]

Aria felt lips pressed against her neck gingerly. [[Aten, BLOCK! Block yourself!]]

[………]

Aria turned on her back and closed her eyes, trying to block her brother’s mental images and sensations. [[Aten, you are in so much trouble when you get back!]]

Aria jumped out of bed, still feeling her brother’s mental sensations. “Umi…..”

Aria crept into Umi’s room, her mind still flooded, the hand still touching her.

Umi opened up his blue eyes and yawned. “Little Mermaid? What’s going on?”

Umi saw a hunger in Aria’s eyes. There was something about her that indicated it wasn’t her. It was almost as if she went yami.

“Little Mermaid? Aria?”

Aria let out a predatory growl and pounced on top of Umi……..”MINE!”

**************************

Malik finished putting the dishes away for the night. Maxine was sitting by the front window watching the dark street outside.

“Goodnight, Maxine.”

The woman smiled at Malik. “Goodnight, Malik. Just try to keep the screaming down to a minimum, okay, darling?”

Malik’s jaw dropped. “Who---?”

“Marik says you have quite the reputation,” Maxine winked.

/Yami Marik, you are so dead…..again!/

“Oh, really? Well, I’ll have tomorrow I’ll have to talk to you about his ear fetish. Goodnight.”

Malik shook his head walking up the stairs. ‘Why me?’

Malik checked on Aria and Umi. Aria had already left the comfort of her bed to stay with Umi. She checked in Aten’s room and found Umi sleeping with Aria in his arms. A big smile was on his face.

Malik shut the door and went into the bathroom. He washed up and stripped. He entered Ryou and Bakura’s bedroom and slipped beside the naked Bakura and Ryou.

Ryou laid between them and let out a contented sigh between his husband and lover.

“How are the kids?” Ryou asked.

Malik reached over to his table and grabbed the massage oil for Ryou. “They’re fast asleep.”

“My daughter is still in her bed, is she not?” Bakura asked, almost threateningly.

“She’s fine, Bakura.”

Bakura rested his head on Ryou’s chest. “Good. Fish-Boy spawn still in his bed?”

“Yes, Bakura. Umi is sleeping in his own bed.”

Ryou stroked Bakura’s hair. “Yami, this is Umi. She’s going to be fine.”

“I don’t need Umi’s tadpoles around here so soon.”

Ryou sighed. “Bakura, just relax, baby. I like Umi. I can trust him with our daughter.”

Bakura let out a little growl. “Nobody is good enough for my little girl.”

Malik squeezed some oil on his hands. “Ryou, sit up and I’ll massage your shoulders. Bakura, I know how you feel about Aria, but she’s getting to be a young lady. She’s not a little child anymore.”

Bakura sighed. “She will always be a child to me.”

Ryou took his hand. “Yami, there is a time where you have to let them go. Aten and Aria will always be my babies, but I can’t change their diapers now. I can’t teach them how to walk anymore. They have to live their own lives.”

Malik gripped Ryou’s shoulders and worked the oil into Ryou’s skin.

The white-haired hikari let out a moan. “Gods, that feels good! My shoulders are killing me!”

“Isn’t nobody good enough for Aten?” Bakura asked Malik.

Malik kneaded Ryou’s shoulders, working hard to relax the knots and tense muscles that were plaguing Ryou. “Well, I do admit that Aten’s health is a huge concern, but as long as someone loves him as much as we do, is it so bad to let him go? Besides, Bakura, I think we have already decided who Aten will end up with. Isn’t it obvious?”

Bakura sighed. “Well, Aria will always be my baby girl. No doubt about that.”

Ryou smiled. “I will never doubt that, Bakura.” He paused. “I love you, Bakura.”

Bakura leaned over and kissed his husband on the lips. Ryou let Bakura’s tongue slip in and explore the depths of his cavern.

Ryou sighed as he felt Malik’s lips on the back of his neck. The other hikari pressed his lips against the white skin, then licking it with his tongue.

Malik’s hands roamed to the front of Ryou’s chest, caressing his other lover’s heating skin. Bakura shifted closer to Ryou and wrapped his arms around Ryou and let them slide down, finally resting on Ryou’s buttocks. The yami pulled his hikari closer, his hands still resting on his lover’s backside.

Malik shifted closer to Ryou, who soon found himself sandwiched between the other hikari and his yami.

Ryou turned his head and leaned back into Malik. Bakura grinned as he watched the two mortals kiss. Bakura kissed Ryou’s neck, sucking at it and giving a gentle nip. Ryou jumped slightly, but kept his attention on kissing Malik.

Bakura kissed down Ryou’s body, taking a nipple between his lips and licking it alternately.

“Oh gods, yami……”

Bakura grinned devilishly, but kept up the slow torture on his husband.

Malik’s hands had begun to rub Ryou’s stomach and his sides since Bakura had been amusing himself with kissing Ryou’s chest. The Egyptian slowly grinded himself against Ryou, teasing, taunting, and torturing him with the feel of his growing arousal.

Malik’s kisses had descended to the side of Ryou’s neck, allowing Ryou to breathe.

“Malik….I love you.”

Malik’s hand had fallen down to Ryou’s erection. The Egyptian cupped Ryou in his hands and gave a gentle kiss to the skin. “I love you, Ryou….with all my heart.”

The yami kissed down his husband’s body, leaving no inch of skin without a kiss.

“Bakura….please….”

Bakura looked up at Ryou with a playful little grin. “What do you want, Ryou?”

Ryou looked down. “You know…..please….”

Malik started stroking Ryou slowly. “I think he wants you to watch, Bakura.”

Ryou’s head snapped up. “What? No…I need….I want….gods…”

Bakura sat back. “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea, Ryou. Good thinking.”

Ryou shook his head with a disappointed moan. “No…Bakura…I need…you…to…oh my word!”

Bakura laid on his side with a devilish grin, watching his husband helpless under the ministrations of the Egyptian. “Ryou, this was a good idea…..”

Malik chuckled. “Bakura, can you hand me my oil? My hands are……..quite busy.”

Malik continued to grind against Ryou, turning the white-haired man into a limp, moaning figure. Bakura opened the bottle. “Allow me.”

Bakura coated two of Malik’s fingers with the oil. “Ryou? Malik is going to prepare you. Would you rather I do it?”

Ryou shook his head. “No….Malik can do it.”

The yami closed the bottle. “Go slow, Malik. Don’t rush. Love, if you want Malik to stop, let him know, okay?”

Ryou nodded. “Yes. I will. Go on, Malik.”

Bakura watched as Malik slipped a finger past Ryou’s protective muscle and into the soft warmth of his body. Ryou’s eyes closed tightly in reaction to the initial preparation.

Malik was slow and gentle as he prepared his friend for their mating.

Bakura watched as Ryou’s body started glimmering with sweat. The hikari let out a moan as the finger slid deep within him. The yami kneeled in front of his husband and leaned down, swallowing around Ryou’s arousal.

“’Kura! Oh, sweet gods!......Baby…..”

Bakura deep-throated his lover and created a gentle suction motion around the arousal.

Ryou’s fingers ran through Bakura’s hair and let the spiky strands slip between them.

Malik entered another finger into Ryou’s tight passage. Ryou let out a slightly louder moan of desperation.

The yami licked the underside of Ryou’s length, letting his tongue flick over the globes of his lover.

“Yami….Bakura….I need you…please.”

Bakura looked up at Malik. “I think he’s ready, Malik.”

Bakura leaned forward and cradled Ryou’s upper body in his arms. He kissed his husband gently on the lips as he laid him on his back.

“I love you, Ryou,” Bakura smiled down at his husband.

Ryou stroked Bakura’s face with his open palm, letting his fingertips slide down Bakura’s face. “My yami…..”

Bakura moved between Ryou’s legs, kissing his husband’s neck with feather-light kisses.

Malik moved behind Bakura, taking the bottle of oil in his hand. A soft whimper from Ryou alerted Malik that Bakura had entered his husband.

Ryou arched his back as he felt his body stretching to accommodate his lover’s length.

Bakura embedded himself in his husband and remained still, letting Ryou adjust.

Bakura closed his eyes and moaned as he felt something slick brush across his entrance. It was warm and wet, slippery and soft.

It teased him before entering into him.

“Malik……sweet Isis…..”

A chuckle came from behind him. “Do you enjoy that, Bakura?”

Sharp gasps came from Bakura. “Do that again.”

Bakura moaned as he felt the warm, moist object touch him again. The yami’s moan became louder as the object pushed itself into him. Bakura’s fingers gripped onto Ryou’s arms tightly as he shifted back into the motion of his lover.

The Egyptian pulled back, smiling at the desperate moan of the yami. He slicked two fingers and slipped both into Bakura’s body.

Bakura slowly began to move inside his husband and shifted back into the fingers that were preparing him.

Ryou looked up into the brown eyes above him and felt the mindlink open between them. He could feel his yami’s increasing pleasure, his body straining not to release.

Malik spread his fingers, stretching Bakura’s channel to make their lovemaking easier.

Bakura moved within his lover’s body faster as Malik’s fingers made contact with his prostate.

The yami moaned as he thrust into his lover’s body with more fervor. Malik moved his fingers in time with Bakura’s motions.

“Bakura,” Ryou whimpered as his body went limp.

Ryou’s body went limp, sucking in breath whenever Bakura slammed into his prostate.

Ryou’s moans rose with his yami’s.

Bakura gripped onto his hikari’s arms. “Ryou….Malik…..coming…..”

Bakura thrust inside Ryou and moaned his release into his lover’s body. Ryou gripped the sheets as his yami’s warm passion flowed into him.

Bakura collapsed on Ryou, his body shuddering from his orgasm. Ryou rubbed his yami’s back, his own body shaking from the need to release.

Ryou turned and helped Bakura on his back. Bakura panted heavily on his back. Malik crawled between Bakura’s legs and laughed.

“Was I too hard on you, Bakura?” the Egyptian asked with a devilish smile.

Bakura shook his head. “You are unstoppable, Ishtar.”

Malik licked his lips. “Oh, really? You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”

The blond hikari leaned down and possessed Bakura’s lips in a kiss.

Ryou moved behind Malik and grabbed the bottle of oil. He slipped two fingers inside Malik’s entrance, preparing him.

Ryou was slow as he prepared the blond as he kissed his husband.

Malik moaned into Bakura’s mouth as he felt Ryou bury his digits deep inside his willing body.

“Ryou…..”

Ryou removed his digits and coated his length with the oil. He positioned himself behind Malik and slipped his length into Malik.

Ryou buried himself in Malik’s body with a moan. He couldn’t remember the last time he took Bakura or Malik when they made love. He had never taken Marik when they made love.

Malik whimpered as Ryou moved inside of him. “Ryou….”

Ryou leaned around and stroked Malik in time with his thrusts. “Come for us, baby,” Ryou whimpered as he felt Malik clench around him from inside.

Bakura grinned and ran his hands over Malik’s manhood along with Ryou. “Come for us, Malik.”

Malik closed his eyes, his head spinning at the sensation of being trapped between the two white-haired men.The blond hikari groaned as he released

Ryou thrust inside Malik and released, filling the Egyptian with his passion.

Malik collapsed, panting heavily on Bakura. The yami wrapped his arms around Malik and hugged him.

Bakura rubbed his cheek against Malik’s blond hair lovingly. “Love you, Malik.”

Ryou removed himself from Malik and laid beside his husband. “My beautiful yami,” Ryou smiled. “I’m so lucky to have both of you.”

Bakura kissed Ryou’s forehead. “We’re lucky to have each other….my angel.”

The white-haired hikari sighed as he cuddled close to his yami.

**************************

Miranda backed away. She never should have told Asher he could leave for the night since Otogi was here!

Vinnie grabbed her wrist. “It’s been a long time, Miranda-baby! Did you miss me?”

Miranda tried to pull her wrist away. “Vinnie, let me go!”

Otogi poked his head out of the kitchen. “Peaches?”

“How about you and I have a little ‘private time’ for old times sake, Miranda?”

Vinnie pulled her against him and possessed her lips in a violent, hungry kiss. Miranda’s eyes widened as she froze.

“Get your mits off of her!”

Vinnie’s green eyes locked with Otogi. “What are you doing here with my girl?”

Otogi stepped out of the kitchen. “’Your girl?’ She’s already married!”

Miranda growled and violently tugged. “Otogi! Get out of here! Call Seto!”

Vinnie jumped ahead, keeping his hand on Miranda and reached for the Dice Master. A shrill scream and Otogi ran into the kitchen.

Miranda kicked Vinnie’s leg and he nearly fell with the force. Vinnie turned and slapped her across the cheek, sending her to the floor.

Otogi grabbed the phone and saw Vinnie stamp into the kitchen angrily.

Vinnie dove for Otogi and wrapped his fingers around Otogi’s neck. The Dice Master struggled with the tall, strong man. “I’m going to pound you into next week!”

Otogi gasped. “VINCENT?!”

The man leered at Otogi. “Oh…wait…I know you….yeah…Otogi, right?”

Otogi’s eyes widened and he went limp. “Oh gods…..it’s…it’s you!”

Vincent laughed. “Well, well, well….fancy meeting you here, chicken shit! So, what are you doing here with my other little bitch?”

A tear fell down Otogi’s face. “She is not a little bitch!”

“You were just a good a fuck as she was, Otogi. So, what are you doing here?”

Otogi pressed against Vinnie. “Let me go!”

Miranda jumped on Vinnie’s back, pulling at his hair. “Leave Otogi alone!”

Vincent reached behind him and grabbed her arm. He threw her over his shoulder and onto the kitchen tile. Miranda let out a gasp and held her back. Otogi ran to her.

“What are the chances that you two would be in the same room at the same time? Now…the question is….who do I take first?” Vincent reached into his pants and removed a gun.

He pointed it at Otogi and Miranda.

“Which one of you should be my bitch for tonight? I could probably take both of you at the same time, but where’s the fun in torturing you both at the same time?”

Vinnie grabbed Otogi and pulled him to his feet. “You were such a submissive little bitch, Otogi….You never fought back. Maybe I should take you first. What do you say?”

Otogi shook his head. “D-D-Don’t hurt Miranda, Vin! She’s innocent!”

Vincent laughed. “There is nothing innocent about Miranda! At least not anymore, right?”

The woman scowled at him. “You’re a fucking bastard, Vince! You made me lose that baby!”

Vinnie laughed. “That may be true, but, I have one of yours to replace it.”

Miranda’s heart leapt into her throat. “You have Robbie?! You know where he is?!”

Vinnie laughed. “Yes, and if you ever want to see him alive again, you will do as I say!”

Otogi watched Miranda tremble. He wasn’t sure if it was from anger or fear. But the woman stood up, using the countertop to steady herself.

“Where is my son, Vince?”

Vinnie smiled. “That is for me to know, Angel Tits.”

Otogi grabbed Vinnie’s shirt angrily. “You have Aten, too! I bet you have Hayden, as well!”

The tall man slammed Otogi against the stove. “Watch your tongue, whore!”

Miranda took the opportunity, seeing Vinnie distracted. She punched Vinnie in the jaw, loosening his grip on Otogi. “WHERE IS MY SON, YOU BASTARD?”

Otogi backhanded Vinnie, freeing himself from the tall man’s grip.

“Where is Robbie?! TELL ME!” Miranda growled as she kicked Vinnie again.

Vinnie narrowed his eyes as he heard someone knock on the front door.

“Miranda? It’s Maxine! Open up!”

“MAXINE! HELP!”

Vincent turned his weapon towards the door and fired. Otogi grabbed Miranda and ran for the back door. “Where the hell do you think you are going?!”

Vincent turned his gun on the fleeing hostages. Otogi let out a scream as Miranda pulled him out of the house.

The man ran out of the house and saw the two hostages fleeing. He fired his weapon and Miranda let out a shrill scream.

Vincent hid behind the corner as gunfire rained down on him. An Oriental woman was holding a pistol and firing. He ran around to the other side of the house and saw Miranda and Otogi on the ground.

Vinnie fired at them and Otogi covered her, shielding her from the bullets. Maxine ran around and fired at the fleeing suspect.

“HE KNOWS WHERE MY SON IS, MAXINE!”

Maxine narrowed her eyes. “STOP!” The woman ran in pursuit. Vinnie turned and fired at the woman as he jumped over the hood of his car.

The suspect started the car and raced away. Maxine turned to the two.

“Are you two okay?”

“HE KNOWS WHERE MY SON IS! FOLLOW HIM!” Miranda shouted.

Maxine bolted down the street towards her own car and chased in pursuit.

Miranda looked up at Otogi. “Otogi? Are you okay?”

“My arm….hurts.”

Miranda looked at Otogi’s arm. “You got hit!”

“Miranda, you’re bleeding, too!”

Miranda looked down at her leg. “Damn it…..”

Otogi struggled to sit up as a car pulled up to the curb. Miranda felt herself freeze, fearing that it was Vinnie returning to finish what he started.

“Otogi?! Miranda?!” Tristan’s voice called to them. “What are you doing out here?”

Otogi started to cry. “My old boyfriend returned and…and….and….”

Miranda held her leg in pain. “OUR old boyfriend returned. He hit me….and he threatened to…threatened to rape me. He found Otogi was with me and he was going to rape both of us. Then Maxine showed up…”

“Where is Asher? I thought he was assigned to be your guard!”

“I told Asher he could go since Otogi was with me. Besides, it would be a crime not to allow Asher to go see the fireworks display downtown.”

Tristan kneeled on the ground, holding his lover with one arm. “Okay, pussycat. Let’s get you to the hospital. Come on, let’s go. Miranda, I’ll help you into my car. Just wait here.”

Tristan helped Otogi into the car, then helped Miranda.

Miranda looked outside the car window as Tristan drove. “Robbie….please, God, let him be okay.”