Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ I Cross My Heart ( Chapter 44 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

I do not own George strait's ”I cross my heart”

Marik ishtar77: Aten and Robbie can get into a whole bunch of trouble with a camcorder.

Kat: Marik does a lot of tilling in the garden…especially Malik's garden…*snicker*

Kura magician Girl: Wednesday and Saturday come too quickly for me

Anubiset: Yeah, I have to set something up for the sequel and you reminded me of it. Malik's pretty much out of the woods, but we haven't heard the last about the video tape yet. That's coming up in the following chappies.

I Cross My Heart

Aten looked out into the night. In the dark sky, the stars twinkled like diamonds. On his desk laid a blank sheet of paper and a pen awaiting the vows that he would write for his wedding.

`How do I say what I want to say?' he thought as he looked into the night. Aten looked at the clock. It was almost midnight and he wanted to wake up and do his sacrifices to Ra before dawn.

He had to pray to Ra for a successful marriage…and for inner strength to face his inner demons.

//Almost midnight….and your paper is still empty. Pathetic.//

/I don't know what to say. I'm no good at letting people know how I feel./

//Then you don't deserve Robbie.//

/Stop it! I love him!/

//Then stop screwing around and write your damn vows!//

Aten folded his arms against his chest. “I've known Robbie for twelve years. We've been through hell together. I've faced more difficult challenges than this. Why is it so hard to tell him how I feel?...What do I feel right now?”

The Egyptian sighed. “I feel…..uncertain. I hope I made the right decision. What if Robbie won't want me after we're married? What if he…..but this is Robbie! Robbie's never hurt me.”

The phone rang, interrupting Aten's thoughts.

“Aten! Phone!” Malik called up the stairs.

Aten picked up the phone in his room. “Hello?”

[Hi, Aten. I just wanted to say goodnight.]

Aten smiled. “Goodnight, Robbie. I'll see you at the church tomorrow.”

[Sure thing. Are you okay?]

“I'm fine. Have a good night's sleep.”

[You, too, baby. Love you.]

Aten sighed. “Love you, too, Robbie. Goodnight.”

Aten hung up the phone and it rang again. He picked it up. “Robbie?”

[Oh! No, it's me!]

“Oh, hello, Un-tle Togi.”

[I've got everything ready for your party tomorrow! I've got Angel Food cake, veggies and veggie dip. I've got Lemon Pepper Chicken made up and I have a fruit platter. Do you think that's enough food? I made your wedding cake entirely out of Angel Food. This way we can all have a picture of you and Robbie sharing your first piece of cake!” Otogi let out a little squeal. “I'm so excited! You must be excited, too!”]

Aten nodded. “Yeah, I am excited. I'm nervous, though.”

[Aten, it's normal to be nervous. I know you're second-guessing yourself and that is normal.]

“I have to write my wedding vows and I don't know what to write. I'm so nervous, I'm having a hard time writing it in plain English.”

[Then write it in plain Arabic.]

“I can't even write it in Arabic! I don't know what to say period!”

[Hmm…that is a tough one. Just be honest, Aten. Tell him that you love him and if you can't think of anything else, I'm sure he won't hold it against you. Oh! Do you want us to put your wedding photo in the living room? Tris and I have it in our bedroom now. I know that picture is a few months old already. Your sister still looks pregnant in it.]

Aten scratched his head. He, Robbie, and Aria had their wedding photo taken while Aria was still carrying Kailani. She was eight months pregnant and her dress showed it. Aria stood beside her brother while Robbie sat on a chair, his cane out of sight.

“Well, that was our wedding picture, but it might remind Aria of Kailani. Put it up somewhere not too obvious. I don't want to hurt her feelings.”

[Consider it done, Aten. Is there anything else you want me to make for tomorrow?]

“I think what you have is good.”

[Okay, Aten! Get a good night's sleep!]

Aten sighed. Somehow he found that sleep may come slow if at all. “Thank you, Un-tle Otogi. Goodnight.”

[Goodnight, Chibi Ishtar!]

Aten hung up the phone and sat at his desk. “Tell Robbie how I feel….”

A knock sounded on the door. “Enter!”

Aten turned around and saw his mother standing there. “Mother?”

“Aten, honey, it's getting late. You have a big day tomorrow.”

“Mother, can you come in?”

Ryou entered the room slowly and sat at the foot of Aten's bed. “What's wrong, baby boy?”

“What was your wedding to Father Bakura like?”

Ryou crossed his legs and smiled. “Well, Yami performed our ceremony. We were married at sunrise. Bakura and I used to spend countless mornings waking up before the sunrise and watching the colors spread over the horizon.”

“Were you scared before your ceremony?”

Ryou nodded. “Yes, I was….we said our vows and Yami gave us his blessing. We married in the Egyptian tradition.”

“Why did Yami perform your ceremony?”

“Because he was the pharaoh. He had the power to bless our union. But we never expected him to turn on us the way he did.”

Aten turned to face his mother. “What was Bakura's vow?”

“He pledged to be committed to me and to protect me from danger. I promised to remain loyal to him, to be dedicated to him, and to love him.”

Aten looked down slightly. “Then how do you explain me?”

“Whatever do you mean, baby?”

“I'm not Bakura's son. Aria is Bakura's daughter. If you pledged to be loyal to Father Bakura, why did you sleep with my father?”

Ryou sighed. “Honey, I love your father and Malik just as much as I love my husband. I love you and Aria no differently. I love you both equally.”

Aten looked down. “I know you love my father and Malik. I'm having a hard time saying what I feel.”

“Take your time with it and speak from the heart, Aten. You love Robbie. You've been playing together since you were kids. You've helped each other through many hard times. He's always been there for you. Say what you feel comfortable saying.”

Aten sighed. “Okay. I'm having a hard time with this.”

Ryou stood up and hugged his son. “I know you'll do great, Aten. Just remember that it doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be from the heart.” Ryou kissed his son on the cheek. “Goodnight, angel.”

Aten watched Ryou leave and sighed. “Tomorrow I begin a new day….and a new life.” Aten buried his face in his hands. “What do I say to him?”

Meanwhile…..

Robbie laid in bed looking up at the ceiling. He almost had his room ready for Aten to move in. The only thing that needed to be done was move some of his things to the attic to make room.

Robbie sighed as he thought about the next day's events. “Tomorrow Aten and I will be married….what a big step!”

Robbie looked at his twisted foot as he crossed his legs. “I hope this stupid foot doesn't act up tomorrow. Aten sounded kind of down on the phone. I hope he's okay.”

Robbie heard a knock on the door. “Come in, mom!”

Miranda opened the door. “How you holding up, Little Soldier?”

“Doing okay.”

“Tomorrow's your big day! Looking forward to it?”

Robbie smiled. “You bet, mom! It's going to be great having Aten stay here!”

Miranda nodded. “Yup…and I have to remember to buy a sympathy card for Malik.”

“Why?”

“Because Marik's going to be over here more than usual and I'm afraid poor Malik's going to get it in the end….literally.”

Robbie groaned. “Mom!”

Miranda snickered. “Well, it's true! Your father called and said he should be here around nine.”

Robbie gasped. “That only gives him fifteen minutes to get here and leave for the church!”

“Your father can dress in five minutes, Robbie. I have his suit all ready for him.”

Robbie smiled and looked over at his closet. His tuxedo was hanging up on the door. “I've got mine ready. I shined my shoes. I even polished my cane for tomorrow.”

Miranda heard the resolved tone in her son's voice when he mentioned the cane. “Honey, Aten loves you with or without the cane.”

Robbie shrugged. “I know. We're a pair, aren't we? Me with my bad foot and he with his bad heart. At least I won't die of a clubbed foot.”

“You're right, Robbie.”

Robbie shrugged again. “I just want to make things perfect for him.”

Miranda smiled. “Marriage has its up and downs, Robbie. Your father and I may not always be together, but even thousands of miles away we still have our confrontations. That's just part of married life. The trick is to cool down and remember why you two are together in the first place…because you love each other and that is what brought you together.”

“I just want to be good to Aten, mom. That's all I want.”

“I know you do, Robbie. Be sure to get some sleep, son.”

Miranda kissed Robbie's cheek and ruffled his curly black hair.

“Goodnight, mom.”

Miranda left and Robbie turned over on his side.

“Tomorrow's the big day.”

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

Robbie's eyes shot open as his alarm went off. He quickly reached over and turned off the radio.

“BIG DAY!”

The teen jumped out of bed and quickly shed his pajama bottoms and underwear. He grabbed the cane and hobbled over to the door where his bathrobe hung.

He quickly grabbed the robe and put it on, balancing himself on one foot.

He rushed to the bathroom, showered, and shaved.

“Robbie! I have your waffles ready!” his mother called from the bottom of the steps.

“Be right down!”

Robbie descended the stairs excitedly and quickly gobbled up his breakfast. “I'm so hungry! We won't get to eat until this afternoon. I better save room for Otogi's cooking!”

Miranda smiled. “Watch how fast you eat, Robbie! You'll get an upset stomach.”

“I'll be fine, mom.”

The boy quickly ate his breakfast and rushed upstairs. He dressed and straightened the bow around his neck. He looked at himself in the mirror and brushed his curly black hair.

His eyes scanned the pictures on his bureau. He still had the picture with he and Aten chasing Aria with the hose.

Robbie smiled and held up the picture of a smiling Aten about five years old.

“Robbie! Your father's home!”

“Daddy!”

Robbie grabbed his father's suit and hobbled down the steps.

Daniel opened the door. “Hey, guys! I'm home!”

Miranda ran into Daniel's arms and hugged him tightly. “Daniel! I've missed you!”

The woman kissed her husband's lips.

“Hey, dad!”

“Robbie!” the father smiled as he hugged his son.

“Hey, dad! Put this on! We don't want to be late!”

Daniel looked at the suit in Robbie's hands. “Late? Late for what? I just got home.”

Robbie hugged his father and looked up at him. “Dad, today I'm getting married!”

Daniel's jaw dropped. “Married? Why didn't you guys tell me?!”

Miranda laughed at Daniel's shock. “We wanted to surprise you, babe!”

“Who are you marrying, Robbie?”

Robbie smiled up at his father. “Aten.”

“Aten?” Daniel asked raising his eyebrow.

“Yeah! Come on, dad! We don't want to be late!”

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

Aten looked at himself in the mirror. His long white and blond hair was tied back with a piece of black ribbon. He straightened his jacket and tried to smile at himself in the mirror.

Ryou stepped beside him and straightened his tie. “My boy is so handsome!”

Ryou wore a white tuxedo with a black tie. He looked up at his son with large chocolate brown eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn't cry,” the mother said as his lip started to tremble.

Aten hugged Ryou and kissed his forehead. “It's okay, mother.”

“No…no, I won't cry. I'll be good.”

Aten stepped up to his mother and held him by the arms. He leaned down and kissed Ryou on the cheek. His purple and brown eyes sparkled as he looked down at his mother. “Mother, I…..I want to thank you for all you've done for me. I really appreciate it. You've always been there to help me and to love me…..” Aten lowered his head. “And I know that it required a lot of sacrificing on your part. But I want you to know that I love you….and nothing will change the fact that you are still my mommy.”

Ryou's eyes glistened with tears and hugged Aten tightly. “Oh, baby boy……I love you, Aten. You're always welcome in our home. You're still my little boy.” Ryou put on a tiny monkey pin on his jacket just beside the carnation. “I bought this for you. It's my little present.”

Marik opened the door. “Aww….mother and son moment.”

“Hello, father.”

“Ryou, can I talk to my son for a moment?”

“Sure. I'll go see if Robbie's ready yet.”

Ryou left and Marik closed the door behind Ryou.

He circled around Aten, scanning him with his eye. “You look good, boy. I'm proud of you, Aten. Today you're taking a big step.”

“I know. I just hope it's a step in a good direction.”

“I know you will be okay.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Robbie will be on the bad side of my Millennium Rod if he so much as raises a hand or a vocal chord to you.”

Aten swallowed hard. His father did not have a good temper when provoked.

“But Robbie has never hurt you….and I want it to stay that way, son. You may be married today, but you are still my son.” Marik stepped towards Aten and stroked his son's cheek. “You are still my flesh and blood. Now, even though this is a Christian ceremony, I think it's time we discuss the consummation of the marriage. Now, you and Robbie probably have not done this but-----”

Aten blushed and snickered.

“What's so funny?”

Aten blushed a deeper red. “Nothing, father.”

Marik froze and his jaw dropped. “You and Robbie have already had sex, didn't you?!”

Aten swallowed as he saw the look on his father's face. “Ummm….yes, father.”

“Aten Bakari…..I just want to know one thing.”

Aten tensed and lowered his head slightly in deference to his father. “Yes, father?”

“I just want to know one thing, son….did you make him scream?”

Aten's color deepened. “Umm…yes?”

Marik grinned with pride. “That's my boy! Keep up the good work, Aten! I'll be right back and let you know if Robbie's ready to begin.”

Marik left Aten and knocked on Robbie's door. Miranda was pinning a carnation on Robbie's suit. Marik saw Daniel in the room and grinned.

“Danny Boy! You're home from the open sea! Came home to see our boys married, huh?”

Daniel cleared his throat. “Yeah, well, I didn't expect to come home to a wedding, but it's a good thing. I just want our boys to be happy.”

Marik hugged Daniel tightly and pat Daniel's right buttock. “So this means we're going to be family!”

Daniel shook his head. “Why me?”

Marik licked his lips. “Oh, come on, Danny….it can't be that bad. Say, since we're family now…do you think I could take Miranda to---?”

“No.”

“But we're only going to ---.”

“No.”

“Not even a little se--?”

“No.”

Marik sighed. “What about `over-the-clothes' type of stuff?”

“No.”

Marik grinned and licked his lips again. “Do you want to join us, Danny? You know, I am bi. Hell, we can invite Ryou, Bakura, and my husband and we can have a hot wild orgy! What do you say?”

Daniel shook his head. “Thanks but no thanks.”

Miranda folded her arms. “Marik, I know you would want to see me naked….my hot naked body pressed against you as I do things that will drive you begging for more…”

“Mom! Dad!” Robbie exclaimed as he held his ears. “Can we NOT talk about you guys having sex with each other?”

Daniel nodded. “True. This isn't the right place to be talking about orgies, Marik. This is a church.”

Marik shrugged. “Okay, don't get your panties in a bunch, Danny. Look, can I have a word with Robbie for a moment? Alone?”

“Sure, Marik. Let's go, Daniel.”

Daniel and Miranda left Robbie alone with Marik.

The father stood in front of Robbie. “Excited?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Aten's excited, too. Which is why I feel as Aten's father, I must reiterate what I had said earlier.”

Robbie swallowed hard. “Yes, sir?”

“I want my son to be loved and cared for. My son has been through hell and back, Robbie. If I find for one moment that he has been mistreated…” Marik ran his fingernail down Robbie's cheek. “If I find for one moment that he has been mistreated…..I will tear out your intestines and dangle your mangled corpse over the city's tallest building. Do I make myself crystal clear on this matter?”

Robbie shivered and swallowed hard again. “Yes, sir!”

“Good…now that we understand each other, welcome to the Ishtar family, Morgan.”

Marik hugged the trembling Robbie tightly.

Ryou knocked on the door. “Marik, we're ready!”

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

Robbie stood at the altar looking at the crowd. In the front line of seats, Mokuba and Jeanie sat with Cassie. The baby girl slept peacefully in Mokuba's arms.

Bakura and Malik sat together and moved over to allow Marik to sit between them.

“Are they ready yet?” Malik asked.

“Yeah, they are,” Marik said, his voice resigned, much to his husband's amazement.

/Marik? Do you need to talk?/

Marik looked down at the floor. //My son is not my little baby anymore. He's not the infant I held in my arms and carried on those long, hot summer nights. I'm watching him leave….and that is very difficult.//

Malik put his arm around Marik. /They all must leave the nest someday, tenshi./

//I know….but why must it be so soon?//

Beside Robbie, Umi smiled at Aria in the front seat. She gave her boyfriend a little smile.

“So this is it, Robbie,” Umi said with a smile and slapped Robbie's back.

The teen wobbled on his cane from the impact. “Yeah, this is it, alright.”

Daniel turned to Miranda. “You kept this a secret?”

“We wanted to surprise you. Did it work?”

Daniel turned to her. “You have to ask? Of course it worked! I never thought Robbie would marry so soon! I never expected this at least for another several years.”

“Honey, Aten has that heart condition. They don't expect him to live much longer. Robbie wanted to do this before Aten became too sick to walk down the isle.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Aten's dying?”

“Yes, Daniel….and Robbie wants to do this now. You understand, don't you?”

Daniel nodded. “Oh, I understand. I just never thought…he'd marry Aten.”

Miranda shrugged. “I saw it coming eventually. I don't think we could have asked for any better, Daniel.”

“True…very true.”

The music started and Robbie swallowed hard.

“No turning back, Morgan,” Umi said with a grin.

Down the isle, Ivy and Lily threw rose petals on the ground. Their bright twin smiles lit up their faces as they waved to the crowd and threw the petals on the ground.

Behind his twin sisters, Ceres carried Robbie and Aten's wedding bands on a velvet pillow.

The church turned to see Aten emerge from the double doors. Ryou walked Aten up the isle arm-in-arm.

Bakura could tell through the mindlink that Ryou was straining to hold himself together.

Ryou's white hair fell around his shoulders as he walked his son to the altar.

Otogi sniffled from his chair. “I will not cry….I will not cry….”

Joey put his arm around Seto's waist and smiled.

Glenn held onto Otogi and Yugi's hands joining in the mantra of `I will not cry.'

The light from the front of the church lit up Aten and Ryou as they approached the altar.

`Aten looks like an angel,' Robbie thought as his boyfriend approached.

Ivy and Lily turned over their baskets, dumping all of the flower petals at the base of the altar. They ran back to their mother and father.

“Did you see us, daddy?” Lily asked.

“Don't I look pretty, daddy?” Ivy asked, twirling with her dress.

Mokuba hugged the girls and put them on the pew beside him. “You both look like little angels.”

The twins smiled and giggled.

Ryou arrived at the altar with Aten and returned to his seat beside his husband.

//You okay, Ryou?//

/My baby boy…..all grown up./

Bakura took Ryou's hand and kissed it. //Good job, baby.//

Our love is unconditional
We knew it from the start
I can see it in your eyes
You can feel it from my heart

Robbie's POV

Look at him….

He's so beautiful…

I look him over with a smile as his eyes do the same.

“Here we are,” I said with a smile.

I took his hands in my own.

He's so beautiful as he looks up at me with those brown and purple eyes glittering in the light of the church!

His hands quiver a little bit as I hold them…

Then I realize that both of us are quivering just as much.

Aten and I are a pair…bad heart, bad foot.

Still, we've always found a way to make it through the roughest times together.

And because of those rough times, our bond has only grown stronger.

Aten's POV

Robbie looks so perfect.

I held onto his hands and felt the familiar gentleness radiating from them.

It seemed for that moment that the world that Robbie and I have created over these past twelve years was going to change forever.

We were going to be husbands…..lovers.

As he held onto my hands, the world around us melted away.

It was just Robbie and I….standing in front of an altar….pledging our lives to each other.

Robbie's always loved me for who I am…

He knows about the past…well….most of it.

He has seen and touched my scarred back…and he doesn't run in horror.

It's hard to see how he can love me with my back and my heart condition….

But deep down, I know he loves me.

And I love him.

From here on after
Let's stay the way we are right now
And share all the love and laughter
That a lifetime will allow

“Dearly Beloved, we are here to join Aten Bakari Ishtar Ibn Marik and Robert Allen Morgan in the sacred bonds of Holy Matrimony. Love…..That is what we are here to celebrate today. Love does not see gender. Love does not know hatred. Love sees past the boundaries of our physical being. That is what we are celebrating today in uniting these two men in the sacred bonds of holy wedlock.”

Aten smiled up at Robbie.

If only time could be frozen…..this is where Aten would want to stay.

“Today we escort Aten and Robbie into a new life with new experiences which will bring them closer to each other. They have a lifetime of love and laughter to share.”

Aten looked down slightly….knowing what they didn't have a lifetime….not a full one.

Robbie reached out and tipped Aten's head up and whispered. “I love you” quietly.

The Egyptian smiled slowly and gave Robbie's hands a reassuring grasp.

`I may not have a lifetime, Robbie….but I will dedicate what time I have to you….and showing you how much I love you.'

I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all I've got to give
To make all your dreams come true

The priest looked down at Ceres. “The rings, please.”

Ceres held up the pillow and the couple took their rings.

“The couple have chosen to recite their own vows.

Robbie took the ring and slipped it onto Aten's finger. “Aten, I pledge to be loyal…..gentle….and kind to you. I promise to dedicate every moment to your happiness. In sickness, I will not leave your side….I promise to take care of you, Aten. My love….my heart….my soul….belong to you.”

In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine

Aten sniffled as Robbie kissed his hand.

“Aten, I will only show you love because you deserve to be loved. I love you more every day.” Robbie looked down. “When I saw you collapse in school, I thought I lost you forever. I was heartbroken….scared. But, Aten….baby….I love you more than words can say. And no matter what happened in the past, we have a future to look forward to…and I couldn't imagine sharing that future with anyone else.”

You will always be the miracle
That makes my life complete

Aten smiled. He took his ring and slipped it onto Robbie's finger. “Robbie, with this ring, I pledge my loyalty to you. I promise to be loyal and faithful to you alone. Things have been rough, Robbie, but you've helped me along the way. You've been my friend….my confidant….and you've shown me nothing but tenderness and understanding. I love you with every beat of my heart, Robbie. My love for you will not stop even after I take my last breath, Robbie. I will love you for all time.”

And as long as there's still breath in me
I'll make yours just as sweet

Aten pressed Robbie's hand against his chest. “My heart beats for you alone, Robbie. I know our time together has always meant everything to me. Though we may only have a short time left together, I promise to bring you happiness and love.”

I vow to make

As we look into the future
It's as far as we can see
So let's make each tomorrow
Be the best that it can be

”Let's not be afraid of what may happen, Robbie……let's live each day together. I want to be with you every day and make each day as perfect for you as possible. And at the end of the day, I will thank Ra that I have you to hold and to love. I will love you for eternity, Robbie.”

I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all I've got to give
To make all your dreams come true

Robbie's bottom lip trembled. “Oh, Aten….that's so beautiful! I am so lucky to have you as my husband, Aten. I love you so much.”

Aten smiled. “I love you will all my heart.”

In the audience, identical sobs could be heard coming from Otogi and Glenn.

“That's so…BEAUTIFUL!!!!” the two men sobbed.

In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine

Robbie looked down as his hand started to slightly tremble. “Aten, my love for you has always been strong. You're my world….and….I've always felt that you were going to be special in my life. I just never realized how special you would become…and how much I would grow to love you…unconditionally.”

And if along the way we find a day
It starts to storm
You've got the promise of my love
To keep you warm

“And, Aten, I will watch over you like I always have. I will be there for you to hold your hand when you are ill….I will be there to wipe the tears from your beautiful face….and I will hold you when you cry. I won't abandon you, Aten. I won't give up on you. I will always be there for you.”

Aten wiped away a tear that was trickling down his face.

In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine

The priest preformed Communion with the congregation and the last prayer was said.

“Aten Bakari Ishtar Ibn Marik, do you take Robert Allen Morgan to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold…in sickness and in health…until death do you part?”

Aten smiled faintly. “I do.”

“Robert Allen Morgan, do you take Aten Bakari Ishtar Ibn Marik as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold in sickness and in health…until death do you part?”

Robbie smiled. “I do.”

“You may now kiss the groom,” the priest said taking a step back.

A love as true as mine

Aten and Robbie stepped towards each other. Robbie reached out and stroked Aten's cheek.

“Baby,” Robbie whispered.

“Robbie….”

Aten and Robbie pressed their lips together slowly. They held each other's hands as they kissed. Aten allowed Robbie's tongue entrance between his lips.

Miranda sniffled as she watched Robbie kiss his new husband. She brought out a handful of tissues. “My Robbie…..”

Ryou buried his face in his hands and sobbed. /Darn…I promised I wouldn't cry!/

Bakura rubbed Ryou's back.

Malik looked beside him and saw Marik's sad face as he watched the two boys kiss.

//This is it…..my son…..//

Malik grabbed Marik's hand and gave him a reassuring smile.

Aten and Robbie broke their kiss and turned to the crowd. Aten saw his mother crying into his hands and his face was overflowing with concern.

The music started as they walked down the isle.

`I have to remember to give mother a hug,' Aten thought as he walked down the isle with Robbie.

Robbie and Aten left the church and sat in their limo. Alex turned to the boys.

“Congratulations, boys,” Alex said with a smile.

“Thanks, Alex. The party is at Otogi's place. You know how to get there?”

The old man nodded. “Sure do. You both just relax and we'll get going.”

Aten snuggled against Robbie as Alex pulled away from the church. He looked at his ring.

“Our wedding bands are so pretty!”

“Nothing but the best for you, Aten!”

Aten smiled and kissed Robbie on the lips. The Egyptian straddled Robbie's hips and held his new husband close.

Robbie's hands floated down Aten's back and gripped his buttocks gently.

Aten brushed his hair behind his ears with a giggle. “You enjoying yourself?”

“All the time!”

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

Aten opened the present from Joey. A smile lit up Aten's face. “Paints! Canvas! Brushes! I needed new brushes! I've been doing so much painting lately that I've gone through them!”

“Well, Aten, that will keep you busy! I got you an easel, too, to use in the new Studio Seto's building for you!”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Studio?”

“Oh, yeah,” Seto said absent-mindedly. “I'm building an addition onto your house so Aten has an Art Studio.”

“Oh…okay. I was wondering what Miranda was talking about when she told me. It makes sense now. I didn't realize that change would be happening.”

Marik sneaked behind Daniel and pat his left buttock. “Change is good, Danny Boy.”

Daniel sighed. “Marik, can you not touch my ass for five minutes?”

“Why not? It's fun.”

Daniel rubbed his forehead. “Oh…why me?”

“Cheer up, Danny Boy! We're family now!”

“You're my brother in law now? Oh good Lord….”

Marik scratched his head. “I don't know much about that `in-law' stuff.”

Robbie gasped. “Look, dad! I got my own camcorder now! Thanks, Marik!”

“Have fun with it, Chibi Danny! You can have a lot of fun with a camcorder!”

Daniel sighed. “I don't want to know, Marik.”

“Sure you do! Malik, tell him about that video we made with the whips and--.”

“Malik!” Mokuba called to him. “Chibis are present!”

Beside Mokuba, Jeanie was playing with Cassie.

Tristan bought Robbie a CD of Rammstein to go with the new camcorder.

“You can dub the music onto the camcorder!”

Robbie raised an eyebrow. “That's odd….no coffee?”

Tristan snapped his fingers. “Oh, yeah!” He pulled out a box and handed it to Robbie.

“I know Aten's like his mom and drinks tea, so I figured an Ultra-Jumbo pack of coffee would last you for a while.”

Robbie removed an extra large container of coffee from the box. “This will caffeinate an army for a month!”

“That's the idea!” the brunet said with a wink.

Ivy walked up to Aten and Robbie with a small box. “Dis iss for you and Wobbie!”

“Oh, baby girl, you didn't have to get us anything!”

Lily smiled up at them. “We asst if mommy would wet us diff it to you.”

Aten opened up the box and found a new pacifier in a box. Aten picked it up and raised an eyebrow. “Umm…what is this for?” Aten asked.

“It's a pacifier,” Robbie said.

Ivy and Lily smiled. “That's for when you and Wobbie have wots and wots of wittle babies!”

Robbie and Aten laughed.
”Girls, we can't have babies! Aten and I are boys.”

Ceres stepped up to his sisters. “When peeples det mawwied, dey haff babies! You and Wobbie are mawwied and now you are going to have a baby gow-ing in your bewwy!”

Aten shook his head. “It takes a girl and a boy to make a baby, kids. Robbie and I are both boys. No girls here.”

Robbie took the box from Aten. “We'll hold onto it, kids. Thank you!”

Aten turned to Robbie. “Why hold onto it?”

Robbie shrugged. “Just in case we do….later on.”

Miranda told the boys that she bought them a one-night's stay at the Sunset Inn in outskirts of town.

Aria had bought Aten a CD of Mozart.

Yugi and Glenn brought Robbie a box of new dueling cards for his deck.

Robbie's eyes widened when he saw `The Wounded Soldier' card. “This is going right into my deck! Thank you, Yugi!”

Robbie hugged the shorter duelist and hugged Glenn tightly.

Otogi had knitted Robbie and Aten matching sweaters for the winter, along with matching gloves.

Marik, Ryou, Malik, and Bakura had saved to give Aten and Robbie a week-long trip to Cancun once Aten had settled into Robbie's home.

Aten watched Ryou go to the balcony alone. He stood over the edge and looked down at the traffic below.

“Pardon me,” Aten said as he walked towards the balcony.

He slid open the doors and stepped into the air. “Mother? I'm sorry if I made you cry.”

Ryou turned to Aten and shook his head. “These aren't tears of sorrow, baby. I'm happy for you. That's all I've ever wanted for you…is for you to find happiness. I'm glad you did.”

“I love Robbie, mother. And I love you, too. I won't be moving far away…just a few houses down.”

Ryou smiled. “I'm proud of you, Aten. I love you so much.”

Aten wrapped his arms around his mother. “I know, mother…I love you, too.”

Update: Saturday