Pharaoh Yamis Princess:  I like your idea. I’ll find a way to make it work. Trust me.

Kat: mmmm….Marik’s Rod is very handy. Mmmm…Rod.

Caterfree: Mustard isn’t too bad.  Like Mustard.

Kura Magician Girl: Aria’s forever sending things to the Shadow Realm when she feels bad.

YoukoMia: The next thing they’ll know, the mayo will be gone. *squishes Ra plushie happily*

Valea: Aten is reverting to his native language because it takes too much effort to concentrate on English.  You’ll find this with most people whose native language is not English…they will use the language that they feel most comfortable using.

Beysie: They will be better soon. I’ll be skipping ahead soon.

Shadow of Light:  I like Chapman, too. I know you’ll be a great psychologist.

Draza: I’m not sure what I’m doing with Yugi yet. I don’t plan him getting back together with Yami.

Anubiset: No one will interfere…at least, no one from the two families anyway.  Aria will be sending more things to the Shadow Realm.

I is Me: Ooopss….sorry. *hands Robbie plushie*

Lady Elfskye: *Aria hands fried birdie*

Seto lover and bakurasgirl worshipper:  ‘We do not fry nature’…poor Bakura.

Tari Helyanwe: Yami disappeared into the Shadow Realm.  I would love to see what stories you write.

Broken Time: *hands out mallets* Help distribute these….please…*evil grin*

 

Challenges

 

Bakura dialed Ryou’s cell phone number.  Ryou picked it up. 

[Hello?]

“Hello, baby.  How is Aten?”

[It’s a good thing Marik is here. Aten is only speaking Arabic right now.  He seems to understand English, but cannot respond.]

Bakura sighed. “You know how he is when he’s not well, Ryou.”

[Yeah, I know.]

“Has Zira said when he can come home?”

[Aten is not alert.  Zira asked him his name and he doesn’t quite remember too well. He knows he’s an Ishtar and knows Marik is his father, but he’s not too aware of anything but the IV’s in his hand.]

Bakura leaned against the wall. “Okay.  What time are you going to be home so Malik and I can have dinner ready?”

[Marik’s staying here with Aten.  I’ll be home around eight.]

“Baby…..you have hardly slept at all these past few days.  I don’t want to see my angel sick.”

[But, Bakura, I can’t leave Aten--.]

“Ryou, you have to come home and rest,” Bakura said sternly.  “You’re going to worry yourself to death one of these days.”

[……….]

Bakura heard Ryou start to cry.  “Ryou?”

[I’m sorry.  Don’t be mad, ‘Kura.]  the voice cracked.

Bakura knew that his husband was an emotional overload.  Aten’s condition had worried him deeply.  “I’m sorry, Ryou, but I am concerned about your health.  I love you, angel, and I don’t want to see you get sick on me.”

[Okay, ‘Kura. You win.  I’ll be home.]

“Hey, hikari?”

[Yes, yami?]

Bakura smiled. “I love you to pieces.  You know that, right?”

[Yes.]

Bakura sighed. “What do you say to dinner out tonight?  You and me?”

[And leave Malik alone?]

“I’m sure he won’t mind.  Ryou, we time together.  We need to go out and just enjoy at least an hour of just being with each other.  We need to go out and just enjoy each other’s company.  We need to go out, seek out the dark forces, and join in their hell-ish crusade!”

(last sentence credit to Addams Family Values).

Ryou chuckled.  [Aww…does my yami need a little lovin’?]

“Yes. Yes he does.”

Ryou laughed. [Okay.  You and I will go out tonight, but only for a little bit. I’d hate to see Malik all alone.]

Bakura raised his eyebrow. “He can join us.  The more the merrier.”

[I won’t complain if Malik wants in.]

“Okay, love. I’ll let you go.  Aishiteru, koi.”

[I love you, too.  Bye.]

Bakura sighed and returned to the kitchen where Aria licking her lips from her raw eggs.  “Was it good?”

She smiled, her canines sparkling. “Everything tastes better raw.”

Bakura opened the door to the refrigerator and Aria froze.  Her father brought out the eggs and shifted the condiments in the refridgerator.  Where’s the ketchup and the mustard for the eggs?’

A loud knock sounded at the door. Bakura slammed the fridge door shut and bolted for the door. He opened it up and saw the most frightening thing imaginable….

Anzu.

Bakura groaned in dismay. “What do you want?”

“I found the chibis!  I found the friendly chibis!”

“We already found them, Anzu, now go do the world a favor and stand in front of a moving train.”

Anzu bounced up and down, her chest bouncing along with her.  The sight was enough to make Bakura swear off even looking at women.  “But, I found them!  See????”  Anzu held up a rock. 

Bakura blinked and sighed. Anzu…that is a rock. A typical…ordinary…brainless….consciousless……misshapen…dim-witted rock.  A lot like yourself.  I hope you two are very happy together and you have my blessings.”

Anzu cocked her head to the side stupidly.  “The kids aren’t here?”

Bakura growled. “Do I have to spell it out in hieroglyphics for you?  They are not here.  They are at Domino Hospital.”

The girl’s mind could not comprehend such a simple sentence saying ‘they’re not here.’  Anzu held up the rock.  “But, see??? It’s the kids!  I’M SO FRIENDLY BECAUSE I FOUND THEM!”

“No, you did not find them because these kids were not formed millions of years ago when the Earth was nothing more than a lake of molten lava.” Bakura picked up the stone. “This was made in a volcano, Anzu.  This isn’t a living, breathing organism!”
Orgasm?????”

Bakura shuddered violently. ‘On second thought, that just killed my libido for the next five thousand years.”

“No, you pea-brained simpleton!  ‘Organ-ism!’”

“Organs are friendly!!! YEAH ORGANS! ORGANS ARE LIKE FRIEN-!”

Bakura dropped the rock and turned around. “I have no time for you.”

Bakura shut the door behind him. “At least she didn’t say that ‘Orgasms are friendly.’  Ick.  Why do I have a driving urge to go make love to my husband right now after hearing that?”

Bakura returned to the refrigerator and froze. “Did I just tell her where to find the kids???!!  I’m in deep shit.”

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

Seto and Joey walked down the hallway to Aten’s room.  Robbie was happy to have Joey sit next to him.  Miranda and Daniel had called Ryou and had said that they would be over later that night for Robbie.

Joey sat on Robbie’s bed and the boy cuddled up beside the blond.  Joey rubbed the boy’s sore back as he sat with the boy holding his G.I. Joe doll against him.

Seto stood at the foot of Aten’s bed looking down at him.  “Hello, Aten?”

Aten turned his head slowly. “Seth….?”

Marik and Ryou turned to Seto.  “Why did he call you by your ancient name?”

“I don’t know.  Aten, I am Seto Kaiba.”

Aten rested his head against the bed and turned his head towards his mother.  “Ana aayiz umm.” (I want mother.)

Ryou turned to Seto. “Don’t feel bad, Seto. He’s off today.”

Marik looked up at Joey rubbing Robbie’s hair.  The blue-eyed boy was drifting into sleep under Joey’s caressing hand.  “How is Hayden?”

Seto sighed. “Zira said we can bring him home in about a week.  He wants to try to give Hayden some more time.”

Seto looked down sadly and stood up.

“Aten, honey, I’ll be right back.”

“La!” Aten held onto Ryou tightly as Ryou tried to walk away.

Marik sat on the bed and Aten gravitated toward him.  “Come here, you.  Let your mother stretch his legs.  Okay?”

Ryou and Seto stepped outside the door.  Seto’s arms quickly opened to accept his friend’s hug. 

“He’ll get better, Seto,” Ryou said.  “Just give it some time.”

“You know patience is not my strong suit, Ryou.”

Ryou’s brown eyes looked up at the sapphire gems above him.  “I know it’s not, Seto.  We’ve just got to have faith.”

Seto sighed. “It’s hard.”

Ryou reached up and stroked Seto’s face. “Seto, do you think I would be standing here right now if I didn’t have faith that everything would turn out for the best?  Faith gets me out of bed everyday knowing that I will have Aten and Aria asleep in their beds when I wake up.  I have a dying boy in there, Seto.  I feel for what you are going through, Seto…to have a child never recover is difficult.  Something in there is keeping that child alive.  But I refuse to give up on him.  I’m going to stay strong for him, even if it is more than difficult on occasion.”

“I never thought of it that way, Ryou.  Joey and I already know we’re going to do what’s best for Hayden, no matter the cost.”

“That’s good, Seto.  Don’t forget to take time out for yourselves.  Bakura wants to take me out tonight for dinner.  He said ‘we needed to go out and just enjoy at least an hour of just being with each other and just enjoy each other’s company.  He wants to go out, seek out the dark forces, and join in their hell-ish crusade!’”

Seto raised an eyebrow. “So, what does that all mean?”

“He wants sex.”

Seto nodded with a smile. “Have fun.”

“I can’t hold back from Bakura. He can’t hide anything from me.  He’s been with me since I was ten years old.  Besides, it’s impossible to hide something from a person who shares half of your soul.”

Seto hugged Ryou tightly. “I know how you feel, Ryou.  Why do you think I can’t hide who I am from you?  I can’t hide anything from you.”

Ryou leaned up and kissed Seto’s cheek.  “You and Joey really need to spend some quality time together.”

“We will.”

“I’m looking forward to spending tonight with Bakura.  It’s been a while.”

Seto smiled.  “You behave yourself.”

Ryou licked his lips and winked. “With Bakura, I never behave myself, Seto. You know that.”

Seto sighed. “I know.  It took me forever to scrub that Louis XIV chair clean after you made love in the ballroom.”

“It was fun. Besides, it was a romantic moment.”

“That romantic moment cost five hundred dollars.”

Ryou laughed. “That’s all?  I was sure that it would be at least twice than that.”

Seto released Ryou. “You are something, do you know that?”

Ryou smiled. “Oh, I know.”

Ryou returned to the room and saw Aten asleep against Marik.  “Poor little chibi…..he’s so tired.”

Marik kissed Aten’s forehead. “Are you going home tonight, Ryou?”

“Yes. Bakura needs to spend some time with me.  Marik, you should really come home with me.  I’m sure Malik misses you.”

The blond yami sighed. “I’ll go home tomorrow.”

Ryou sighed. “Okay, Marik.”

Ryou helped Aten lay back in the bed.  Marik tucked the Millennium Rod under the sheets beside his son.  Marik crossed his arms and he disappeared into the Millennium Rod.

The white-haired man sighed and took his position beside Aten. 

Robbie let out a loud snore beside Joey. 

The blond snickered. “Oh my god…he fell asleep as I was rubbing his hair!”

Seto saw Robbie’s arm fall limp to the side.  “We’ll have to mention to Aten later that’s how you put him to sleep.”

Joey stood up and pulled the covers over Robbie.  Robbie’s clubbed foot was hanging off the side of the bed. The twisted foot twitched with Robbie’s sleep.

Joey gently took the foot in his hand and placed it under the sheets.  He put Robbie’s G.I. Joe doll beside Robbie.

The blond stood beside his lover and looked at the two boys sleeping.  Robbie was still curled up in a fetal position, snoring.  Aten was laying on his back, his long white and blond hair falling all around the pillow.  His closed eyes fluttered with dreams.  Aten continued to hold onto his mother’s hand in his sleep.

Joey shook his head. “Seto….I don’t know who to pound into next week.  They’re both being so freaking adorable!”

“I know. The urge to squish them into next week is getting too much.  We’ll see you later, Ryou.”

Seto kissed Ryou on the cheek.  “Goodbye, Ryou.  Love you.”

Ryou nuzzled Seto’s chest. “Goodbye, Seto.  Love you, too.”

Joey pat Ryou on the shoulder.  “See you later, Ryou.”

Ryou smiled. “Goodbye, Joey.”

Ryou watched Seto and Joey leave. 

He turned his head with a sigh. 

Both boys were asleep.  Robbie was snoring in his bed.

Ryou rested his head on his hand and watched the two boys sleep, his own eyes slowly closing from exhaustion.

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

Gabby comes over

Aria tied the bows in her hair and tightened them.  She brushed her teeth and her canines thoroughly. 

The doorbell rang and she let out a squeal.  She ran down the steps and opened the front door.  Gabby stood there with a make up case and a big smile on her face.

“Time for our make-over, Aria!”

Aria hugged her friend.  “Awesome!”

Gabby ran into the house, bouncing.  “Has your brother come home yet?”

“No, he’s not.  I miss him. Now that Umi is gone, I have no one to play with.”

Gabby stuck her lip out. “Now you got me, Aria!  You’ll always have me to play with!  Let’s go to your room!”

Aria and Gabby ran up the stairs and into Aria’s room.  They sat on the floor.

“So, Aria, you like Umi, don’t you?”

Aria painted her nails pink.  “Yes, I do.”

Gabby put some Eye Shadow on her eyes.  “I like Bruce in our class.  He’s really cute!”

Aria laughed. “He’s a good duelist, but he’s okay looking.  Umi has the cutest eyes!”

Gabby put lipstick on her lips.  Umi has a cute smile. I will tell you that.  His smile is really, really cute. If we could put Bruce’s head on Umi’s body, that would be so cool!  He’d be the perfect guy!”

“No, Umi is the perfect guy!  He’s very, very handsome!”

Gabby combed her hair.  “Your brother is pretty cute, too.”

Aria curled her nose.  “You think my brother is cute?”

Gabby nodded.  “Do you know Rachel has a crush on him?  And Donna?  And Jessie?  And Hailey?  They all have big crushes on him.”

“Donna?  I thought she hated him!”

“Oh, no!  She thinks he’s the hottest thing since fire!”

Aria put lipstick on her lips and brushed her spiky, white hair.  “I didn’t know so many girls had a crush on him.”

“Oh, yeah!  They are shy about approaching him, though.”

Aria narrowed her eyes. “Actually, I remember Aten coming home one day with something in his schoolbag.  He showed me a scrunchie. He wouldn’t tell me who gave it to him.  He said he found it.”

Gabby laughed. “What color was it?”

“White.”

Gabby laughed. “Hailey wears white scrunchies ALL THE TIME!  Hailey gave your brother a present!!!  Does he wear it?”

“No.  He gave it back to her the last day of school.  He said he wasn’t interested in her, so he returned it.”

Gabby nodded. “Yeah, Hailey was upset.  She cried.”

“Aten hates to see people cry.”

“He hugged her and she was better.”

Aria sighed.  “Aten gives the best hugs.  I miss his hugs.  We hugged each other every night before bed.  When he gets back, he owes me tons of hugs!”

Gabby put a plastic bracelet around her waist.  “There! Now I look pretty!”

Aria looked at herself in her little hand-held mirror.  “I look perfect!  I have bright, shiny canines and everything!”

Gabby sighed. “Now that we look pretty, what are we going to do?”

Aria narrowed her eyes and grinned.  “I know something we could do.  Follow me.”

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

Bakura opened his eyes from his nap.  He had begun to feel a wave of Ryou’s exhaustion through the mindlink and it made him sleep all afternoon.  He yawned as he looked around the bedroom he shared with his husband. 

The yami sat up and stretched.  He stood up and staggered to the bathroom.  When he was finished, Bakura walked downstairs for something to drink.

Malik heard Bakura walk in and he turned around from the sink. “Hello, Baku-----.”  Malik’s jaw dropped and he raised an eyebrow. “Bakura, are you okay?”

Bakura yawned as he reached into the refrigerator.  “Yeah, I’m fine. I was really tired. I needed that nap.”

Bakura drank from a can of soda that he opened.  The blond hikari watched him with an expression of shock.  “What’s the matter, Hikari Malik?  You look…..surprised or something.”

“Oh, no! It’s nothing!” Malik said turning around to face the sink.  His eyes shut tightly as he laughed to himself.

/Marik!!! Marik!!! You’re missing this!/

//What is it, hikari?//

/I’m going to send you an image through the mindlink./

//What of?//

Malik sent a mental picture of Bakura through the mindlink and a moment later, the yami in the Millennium Rod was on the floor of his soulroom laughing loudly.  He clutched his stomach as the violent laughter resonated through the soulroom.  Beside Aten, the Millennium Rod vibrated with his laughter.

Bakura looked around. “Where’s my kid?”

“She just returned from walking Gabby home. She came over to play a little bit.”

Bakura sighed. “I didn’t even hear Gabby come in. Then again, I was beat.”

“Bakura! Malik! I’m home!” Ryou’s voice called from the living room. 

“Ryou!” Bakura called excitedly.

The yami walked into the living room and Ryou stopped short when he saw his husband. 

Bakura put his arms around Ryou and hugged him tightly.  “How are you, baby?  I missed you.”

The yami buried his face in Ryou’s neck and began licking and sucking at the flesh.  Ryou saw Malik stand in the entrance way to the kitchen, covering his mouth and laughing quietly.  Ryou bit his lip trying hard not to laugh. 

“Umm, yami, it’s nice to see you, too.”

Bakura pulled back and looked down at his lover with a smile. “Give me a kiss.”

Ryou pulled back as he looked at the lip-stick covered lips. “Umm…I’d love to, ‘Kura, but umm…how shall I put this….I’d hate to smear your lipstick.”

“What are you talking about, Ryou?  I don’t have lipstick.”

Malik fell over laughing, causing the yami to turn around.

“What’s so funny?”

Ryou covered his mouth and laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Bakura asked turning towards his husband. 

“Excuse me for a moment!” Ryou ran up the stairs and ran into his bedroom laughing loudly.  He slammed the door and collapsed on the bed in a fit of laughter.

“WHAT IS SO FUNNY, HIKARI ISHTAR?”

Malik pointed to his face. “You’ve….got….OH SWEET ISIS!....make-up on you!”

Bakura’s eyes narrowed. “What???!”

Malik couldn’t respond since he was out of breath from such deep laughter.

Bakura ran upstairs and looked in the bathroom mirror.  He had lipstick on him, eye shadow, blush, and eyeliner.  Mascara was on his eyelashes.

ARIA KANIKA ITEMRI BAT BAKURA!”

Aria heard her father’s angry growl and her head perked up. “Uh-oh. Daddy’s pissed!”

Bakura burst into her room.  “Young lady, explain this!”

Aria looked up at her father with large chibi eyes.  “I was only playing, daddy!”

Bakura crossed his arms sternly.  “This is not playing, Aria!  You don’t go around putting make-up on your family members! What am I going to do with---?”

Bakura disappeared.

Aria bit her lip, laughing.

Bakura reappeared. “I AM YOUR FATHER, MISSY!  DON’T YOU DARE SEND ME TO THE SHADOW REALM---.

Bakura disappeared.

Aria fell back on her bed, laughing, as she clutched onto her Change of Heart plushie.

Bakura reappeared. ARIA KANIKA! STOP THIS--!”

Bakura disappeared then reappeared. ARIA-!”

Her father disappeared again then reappeared. “STOP!”

Ryou walked into the doorway. “What is going on in here? Where’s your father, Aria?”

Bakura reappeared. “ARIA, I’M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW TO STOP SENDING ME TO THE SHADOW REALM!”

“Aria, dear, are you sending your father to the Shadow Realm?”

Aria gave her mother chibi eyes.  “Yes, mother.”

“Ryou, tell her to stop--!”

Bakura disappeared. 

Ryou sighed and sat beside his laughing daughter.  “Honey, it’s not good to send your father to the Shadow Realm.”

“But, it was funny!”

Bakura appeared and disappeared just as quickly. 

Ryou snickered. “Okay…I take it back. It’s funny.  But, honey, it’s not good to put make-up on your father.”

“I just wanted him to laugh.”

Ryou hugged her. “I know you did, honey.  But I know your daddy doesn’t appreciate waking up and looking like a drag queen.”

Aria sighed. “Okay.  I’m sorry.”

Bakura reappeared.  “Aria, I swear, you are an inch away from---!”

“I took care of it, Bakura.  Why don’t you go wash up?”

Bakura grumbled as he walked out of her room. 

“Mommy, is Aten going to come home soon?”

“Soon, baby girl.  The doctor wants him there for six weeks.”

Aria’s jaw dropped. “SIX WEEKS?  My brother won’t be here for six weeks?”

Ryou put his arm around her.  “You can go see him tomorrow if you want.”

Aria smiled. “I can?  I miss him.”

“I know you do, baby. I miss him, too.”

“Is he going to live?”

Ryou nodded. “Yes, honey.  He will.”

Aria sighed in relief.  “I hope he does.  I want to bring him a present.”

“Well, Aria, I know Aten would really appreciate his paints and pencils.  If you want to we can grab a sketch pad on the way to the hospital.  This way Aten can paint when he feels up to it.”

“Really?!  Thank you, mother!” Aria squealed as she threw herself at her mother.  Aria wrapped her arms around Ryou and hugged him.  She kissed her mother on the cheek.  “I love you, mother!”

Ryou wrapped his arms around his daughter and hugged her.  Ryou buried his face in her spiky hair and sighed happily.  After a long day of watching over Aten, it was good to come home and cuddle his daughter. 

Aria pulled back and held onto Ryou’s shoulder. “Love me, mommy?”

Ryou grabbed her and pulled her close, covering her cheek with kisses. Aria let out a happy squeal.

“FATHER!  MOMMY’S GLOMPING ME!! AHHH!! HE’S SQUISHING ME AGAIN!”

Ryou buried his face in her neck and growled, making the girl squeal loudly.  “COME HERE, CHIBI YAMI!”

“AHHH!  MOTHER’S SQUISHING ME!”

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

Jeanie and Mokuba sat in the Study reading books of baby names.  Jaimen sat on the floor by the fireplace playing with his toy planes.

Serenity was reading a book by the fireplace. 

Jeanie cocked her head to the side with a smile.  “What do you think about ‘Dylan’?”

Mokuba smiled. “I like that name.  Hmm…What about ‘Kelsey’ if the baby is a girl?”

“Hey, that’s cute!  Okay, we have a good name there if the baby is a girl.”

Jaimen turned to Mokuba.  “Uncle Mokuba?  What are you doing?”

“Looking for names for our baby.”

Jaimen turned to Jeanie. “Why are you happy?”

“Having a baby is a good thing, Jaimen,” Jeanie explained with a smile.

Jaimen raised an eyebrow. “No it’s not.”

Mokuba looked up from his book.  “Why is it not, Jaimen?”

“Because you must have hurt Mokuba when you made the baby like my mommy hurt my daddy.”

Jaimen’s statement took Serenity’s attention away from the book.

“That’s how babies are made, Jaimen…through pain.”

Mokuba narrowed his eyes. “Serenity, just stay quiet!  Jaimen, Jeanie didn’t hurt me.”

Jeanie looked at Mokuba. “Jaimen, I never hurt Mokuba.”

Jaimen stood up and ran to Mokuba’s side.  He hugged Mokuba tightly. “It’s okay, Jaimen, Jeanie did not hurt me.”

“She didn’t?”

“Not everything between adults is cruel, Jaimen,” Mokuba said, taking Jeanie’s hand.  “I met Jeanie in my class and I love her very much.  I hug her and kiss her.  When she feels sad, I try to cheer her up.”

Serenity laughed. “Oh, please, Mokuba!  There’s no need to lie to the kid!”

Jeanie leaned down to Jaimen. “Don’t listen to her, Jaimen.  She doesn’t know what she is talking about.”

Serenity narrowed her eyes. “Yes, I do. I’m trying to show this child what the world is like…and what you Kaiba’s truly are.”

Jeanie crossed her arms.  “And what ARE the Kaiba’s, Serenity Wheeler?  Don’t forget your brother is marrying into the Kaiba Family!”

“My brother is NOT MARRYING SETO!”

Mokuba stood up furiously.  “Joey has been a part of this family for over twelve years!  He is part of my family!  You can’t take him away from us!  He doesn’t want to go with you, Serenity!  What will it take to get through to that thick, hard skull?!”

Serenity stood up.  “Typical Kaibas!  You’re all the same!  Using insults to get your way!  Joey is not a Kaiba, and I won’t let you say otherwise!”

Jaimen jumped up on the couch and threw himself into Jeanie’s arms, trembling at the raised voices.  Jeanie hugged him close to her body. 

“Serenity, you are just too blind to see what a good person your own brother is!”

“Your brother and your family are NO DAMN GOOD, MOKUBA KAIBA!”

Mokuba growled and clenched his fists.  With a quick motion, he punched Serenity in the jaw.  Serenity fell back onto the couch.

Jaimen’s eyes widened and he let out a scream.  Jeanie held him tightly.

The door burst open and Seto and Joey ran into the room. 

“What happened?”

Jaimen ran to Seto with open arms, crying. “Uncle Mokuba punched Serenity!”

Joey ran to Serenity. “Serenity?”  Joey pat his unconscious sister’s cheek.

“Mokuba? Jeanie? What happened and why is Jaimen crying?” Seto asked as he kneeled to bring his son into his arms.

“Serenity said we were no damn good as Kaibas.”

Seto narrowed his eyes at Serenity’s unconscious body.  “Joey, she needs to get out of here.  I will not take this anymore!  It’s over, Joey.  She has to go.  I can’t take her shit anymore.  Shhh….Jaimen. It’s okay.”

Joey nodded. “Yeah, she has to go.  I’ll talk to her when she regains consciousness.”

Seto narrowed his eyes. “Joey, I want her ass on the curb now!”

“Seto, this is my sister!  I can’t just toss her out like this!”

“Then find a place to put her out of my way.”

“Let me talk to her, Seto.”

Seto brushed the tears from Jaimen’s eyes.  “Go with Jeanie and Mokuba, Jaimen. I have to talk to Joey.”

Jeanie and Mokuba took Jaimen and walked out of the Study.

Seto went over to Serenity.  “Let her lay there for a bit, Joey.  We have to talk.”

Joey stood up. “Should we really talk in here?”

Seto sat in the chair in front of the fireplace. “She won’t hear us.  Besides, I want a few words when she wakes up.  Sit down, puppy.”

Joey sat down on the chair opposite of Seto. “Okay.”

Seto crossed his legs.  “What are we going to do about Hayden?”

“I dunno.  There’s not much we can do about him right now with him in the hospital.”

Seto looked into the fire.  “What if Hayden never recovers?  Do you really think we can care for him?

Joey’s jaw dropped. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I have a company to run, Joey.  What if Hayden does not recover from this? What are we going to do?  Where are we going to put him?  How are we going to care for him?”

“We’ll find a way, Seto.”

Seto looked at Joey. “How?  Your paintings take up your day.  Mokuba is working in our Technology Development Department.  Jeanie is in no condition to care for Hayden.  She is working at her job, too.  We can’t ask Jaimen to take care of Hayden.”

“Well, I’m not painting all day!  I could drop what I’m doing and take care of Hayden!”

“Joey, my staff are paid to clean my rooms, do my laundry, and cook for me.  I would have to hire a nurse to be on call twenty four hours a day to care for Hayden.”

Joey stood up. “We have money to do it!”

Seto uncrossed his legs. “Joey, did you see how violent Hayden had become this morning?  We need to place Hayden in a place that is staffed with people who are trained for handling this type of behavior.”

“Are you suggesting we put Hayden in the loony-bin?”

Seto put his hand up. “I never said that, Joey.  I just think Hayden would be in a better place where he could be under surveillance 24/7.”

Joey shook his head. “We can’t do that, Seto.”

“Joey, I know this is hard.  But what other options do we have?”

“I don’t get you!  How can you suggest that someone else take care of Hayden?!  How DARE  you suggest that!”

Seto narrowed his eyes.  “Joey, it is impossible for us to do this! We aren’t trained to take care of Hayden! We cannot give him the proper care he needs!”

“He is our son!  I bet if this was Jaimen, you’d be quicker than lightening to hire an entire staff of nurses!”

Seto jumped out of his seat. “That is a lie and you know it, Wheeler!”

“I’m not going to let Hayden go into a hospital!  I won’t let you do that to him! I love him!”

“I love him, too, Joey! I am thinking realistically!”

 Joey narrowed his eyes. He barged out of the Study and stamped to the bedroom. Seto followed after him.
”Joey, I don’t see what acting like a four year old is going to do to help us solve this problem!”

Joey burst into his bedroom and walked to his bedside table.  Joey reached in and grabbed his dueling deck. He slammed his deck on the table. “There’s only one way to settle this!  I challenge you to a duel!  If I win, Hayden stays here.  If you win……we’ll……find somewhere to put Hayden.”

Seto narrowed his eyes and went to his bedside table.  “Joey, you’re on!”

Seto grabbed his deck and the couple walked out of the room.  Jaimen stood outside waiting.

“Where are you going?”

“To the Dueling Arena downstairs.”

Jaimen jumped. “I wanna go, too!”  Jaimen followed the two duelists to the elevator.

“My daddies are gonna duel! YEAH!”

Joey and Seto narrowed their eyes at each other, their lips curling in anger.

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

Joey put one card face down.  “One monster face down defense position.  I also place one magic/trap face down.  End turn.”

Seto drew a card from his deck and growled. “I summon ‘Solar Flare Dragon’ (1500/1000) in attack mode!  I attack your face down card, Joseph!  Go, my beast!  Firestorm attack!”

Joey grinned. “I activate ‘Draining Shield!’  Your attack is canceled and my life points increase equal to his attack!”

Joey’s life points increased to 5500.

Seto growled. “That was a cheap move! I place one magic/trap face down. End turn.”

Joey narrowed his eyes as he drew a card from his deck.  “I summon “Mystic Swordsman LV4 (1900/1600) in attack mode!  Mystic swordsman, attack Seto’s life points directly!”

Seto laughed. “Not so fast!  I activate ‘Raigeki Break’!  I discard one card from my hand to the graveyard and I destroy one monster on the field!  I choose your Mystic Swordsman! GO, RAIGEKI BREAK!”

Joey’s monster exploded and he growled.  “Hey!  You can’t do that!”

Seto crossed his arms with a smile. “Well guess what, Joey?  I just did.”

Jaimen jumped up and down on the side lines.  “GO, DADDY!”

“End turn,” Joey growled.

Seto pulled a card. “I summon ‘Spear Dragon’ (1900/0) in attack mode.  Spear Dragon, attack Joey directly!”

Joey’s lifepoints fell to 3600.

“Now my dragon goes into defense position.  I place one magic/trap face down.  I end my turn.”

Seto glared at Joey. ‘Once he has a face-up monster on the field, I’ll activate my ‘Ring of Destruction.’  That will destroy his monster, but it will also do damage to both of us.  I’m not going to lose in front of Jaimen!’

Joey picked a card from his deck.  He grinned. ‘The Red Eyes Black Chick!  All I need is to draw my Red Eyes and I’ll have Seto on his knees begging for mercy!’

Joey grinned. “I place this card face down defense.  And I lay one magic/trap face down.”

Seto growled. ‘He didn’t play a card in face-up position!  Damn it!’  Seto picked up a card. 

“I sacrifice my ‘Spear Dragon’ to summon ‘Luster Dragon’ (2400/1400) in attack mode.”

Joey took the card on top of his desk. He kept his eyes closed. ‘Come on, baby…daddy needs a new pair of shoes!’  Joey opened his eyes and he cheered. “ALRIGHT!  I send my Red Eyes Black Chick to the graveyard.  Because of his special ability, I can summon one Red Eyes Black Dragon from my hand!  Joey Wheeler’s a lucky boy today!  COME OUT, RED EYES BLACK DRAGON!

The Red Eyes Black Dragon appeared on Joey’s side of the field. Jaimen bounced up and down. 

“End turn.”

Seto raised an eyebrow. “What the---?”

Joey groaned. “What is it?  It’s your turn!”

“Umm…..why is there yellow stuff on the Red Eyes Black Dragon?”

“Yellow stuff?  Red Eyes, come here, girl.”

The dragon turned and looked down at its master.  The dragon lowered its head, purring.  The Red Eyes leaned over its master and sheltered Joey under its large, black wings. 

Joey stuck his fingers in the yellow stuff and sniffed it.  “Mustard?  What’s mustard doing on the Red Eyes?”

Seto picked up the top card from his deck as Joey was preoccupied with his dragon.  He laughed loudly.  “It seems like luck is on my side, Joey!  I drew my ‘Monster Reborn’!  I bring back the creature that I sent to the graveyard at the beginning of the duel!  COME, BLUE EYES WHITE DRAGON!”

The Blue Eyes White Dragon appeared on the field, roaring angrily.

Jaimen let out a squeal. “Oh no!  The Blue Eyes White Dragon is bleeding!”

Seto gasped. “What?  Come here, boy.”

The Blue Eyes turned toward Seto and lowered its head.  Seto put his finger in the “blood.” 

“This isn’t blood.  It’s….ketchup!  What the hell did this happen?”

The Red Eyes Black Dragon turned towards the Blue Eyes.

The two dragons approached each other.  The Blue Eyes lowered it’s head to lick the mustard from the Red Eyes neck.  The Red Eyes licked the ketchup off of the other dragon’s head.

The two dragons growled low in their throats as the affectionately cleaned each other up.

Jaimen smiled. “Awww….the Blue Eyes loves the Red Eyes Black Dragon!  That’s so cute!”

Joey and Seto watched in amazement as the dragons licked each other cleaned and started nuzzling each other.

Seto looked down at this deck.  ‘What am I doing?  I’m dueling to destroy Joey.  I’m fighting with him.  This is not why I duel Joey.’

The blond looked up at the dragons. ‘I’d never thought I’d see the day when the Blue Eyes and the Red Eyes would lick each other like this.  Could it be possible that our monsters fell in love….like we did?  Is Jaimen right?  Does the Blue Eyes love the Red Eyes?  If so…..these dragons just taught Seto and I an important lesson.’

Joey grabbed his deck and gathered his cards.  He stepped off of the dueling platform.  Seto saw him and gathered his deck and cards.  The CEO stepped off of the platform and walked towards his lover as the two dragons disappeared.

The two men stood face to face, toe to toe. 

Jaimen, can you give Joey and I some privacy?”

Jaimen nodded. “Okay.  I’ll go see if Aunt Serenity is awake.”

The boy ran out of the room.

“Seto?”

“Joey?”

The CEO sighed. “I’m sorry, Joey.”

The blond sniffled. “I’m sorry, too, baby.”

Joey and Seto hugged each other tightly.  Seto buried his face in Joey’s hair and cried. “I

didn’t mean to fight with you.”

Seto cupped Joey’s face in his hands and pressed his lips against the sweet lips of his lover.  Joey’s lips opened to allow his lover’s tongue to slip between and explore the warm silky inside of Joey’s mouth.

The CEO’s fingers brushed along Joey’s cheek, feeling his lover’s skin warm under his touch.

Seto pulled back and put his forehead against his lover’s.  “We’ll find a way to take care of Hayden, angel.”

“We will, Seto. Let’s not fight over this anymore.  I don’t want to fight you.”

Seto kissed Joey’s cheek and over to Joey’s ear.  “I want to make love to you.”

Joey allowed Seto to bring him into his arms and lay him on the floor…..

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

Ryou tucked Aria in bed for the night.  “Goodnight, angel.”

“Goodnight, Mother.”

Bakura came in and growled at his daughter.  She responded with a growl of her own, vicious and threatening.

“Ha!  That’s my little girl!  Growls just like her daddy!”

The girl grinned, her canines showing through.  “Oh course! I got daddy’s bloodlust!”

Bakura growled into her neck.  “Go to sleep, Chibi Yami.”

“Goodnight, Father.”

Ryou and Bakura left and closed the door.

“So, what do you have planned, Bakura?  Or should I not ask?”

Bakura grinned and hugged Ryou.  “What do you say we raid moneybags’ fridge and go take a ride on the wave’ again?”

“Yami, do you really want to make love on Seto’s waterbed again?  It’s not such a good idea.  What if he finds out?”

Bakura laughed. “He hasn’t found out before, has he?”

Ryou sighed. When his yami had his mind made up, there was no stopping him.

 

Updates: Saturday

NEXT CHAPPIE: RYOU X BAKURA LEMON, BAKURA X MALIK LEMON!