Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Journey to Heaven ❯ The Seeds of Revolution ( Chapter 49 )

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

MarikIshtar77: YEAH, INSANE HAYDEN!!! *evil laugh*

Kat: Understatement of the year….so true. What is it with Ishtars and twisting their lovers like pretzels?

Elusive dreamer: I must say, I LOVE your idea for the sequel!!!! I never thought about that! *hands many plushies of favorite characters* YOU ARE AWESOME! *hugs*

Kura Magician Girl: Aten's so much like his father, it's really scary sometimes.

Anubiset: Yami will get his ass kicked by many people…promise.

Shadow of Light: Yeah, it's almost like Hayden does have a yami, isn't it?

Crazy Kins: Joey's going to encounter Hayden in the sequel *evil grin*

The Seeds of Revolution

Aten rolled over in bed the next morning and draped his arm over Robbie's body. The Egyptian moaned quietly in his lover's ear.

“Morning, lover,” Robbie said with a smile. “Feeling better after last night?”

Aten shifted against Robbie and nodded. “Yeah…I do.”

Robbie leaned back against Aten and kissed his lips softly. “You know….ow….I didn't know I could bend that way.”

Aten giggled. “Oh, you'd be surprised.”

Robbie tried to raise his leg and winced. “Ow…Aten, I don't think you can bend me like a human pretzel anymore. There are some ways people's hips weren't meant to go.”

Aten laughed as he cuddled against Robbie. “Oh, come on…you enjoyed it.”

“I never said I didn't.”

Aten kissed Robbie on the cheek. “We should get going. We have to take that tape to the police. I feel so bad waiting to give it to them.”

“Malik's fine, Aten. He's got your dad and Bakura to look after him.”

“Still……I know Malik understands. Between our wedding and Aria's wedding, and me moving into your house, it's been busy.”

Robbie looked around. “I wonder where Asher went.”

Aten shrugged. “For all we know he could still be drooling over those tiki torches.”

Aten rolled out of bed and stood up. With a stretch, he smiled at the rising sun. Robbie watched Aten as he walked to the window and opened the blinds.

The sun lit up the room and created a halo around Aten's naked body.

Aten turned and scratched his hair. “I'll get a shower first. I'm dirty. Try calling Asher on the phone and ask him where he is.”

Robbie picked up the phone and dialed Asher's cell. “Asher?”

[Robbie? You awake?]

“Yeah, we're getting showered and ready to go.”

A sigh of disappointment sounded over the cell phone. [Okay…]

“Asher, I know you want to stay, but we have to go home.”

[Can I set just a little fire?]

“No.”

[Aww…but, Master Robbie, Fire is so…..sexy…..]

“I know it is, Asher, but we have to go.”

[But I wanna set something on fire!!!!]

“Asher, when we get home, you can light Seto's fireplace on fire. Okay?”

[……You mean it?]

“Double secret solemn promise.”

[Okay…I'll be right there.]

Robbie hung up the phone and crept towards the door to join Aten in the shower.

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

Aten and Robbie arrived on top of the KaibaCorp building. Seto had allowed the newly-weds to take his private jet.

Aten turned to Robbie. “I want to see my uncles before we go, Robbie. Do you mind waiting for a little bit?”

“Nope. I'll come with ya. We owe them a lot, Aten. In fact, Seto helped fund the engagement rings and wedding bands.”

Aten gasped. “You borrowed money for the rings?”

“I promised him I'd work off my debt, Aten! He said he might give me a job after I graduate high school. It won't be long until we graduate.”

Aten shrugged. “I'm home schooled now. I don't think I'll get a graduation.”

Robbie put his arm around Aten. “Oh, we'll have something nice for OUR graduation, Aten. You'll graduate with me. They can't deny you a chance to walk down the isle.”

Aten grabbed their overnight bag and took Robbie's hand. The two boys walked into the elevator and rode it to the next floor down. They stepped off of the elevator and heard a cry come from the baby's room.

“Poor Cassie,” Robbie said. “I'll be in here, Aten.”

Robbie hobbled into Cassie's room and found the baby laying in the crib face up. Her little face was red from crying.

“I wonder where Jeanie is. She's always here when the baby cries.”

Robbie reached into the cradle. “Cassie-girl? What's wrong?”

“WAHH!!!!” the baby squealed.

“Tell Uncle Robbie what you want.”

“AHHH!!!” the loud shriek sounded through the room.

Robbie made a funny face and it scared the baby girl. “Oops…I think I just made it worse.”

The teen pulled Jeanie's rocking chair over to the crib. He leaned his cane by the chair and used the crib to stand up.

“I have to get her out of the crib without falling down.”

The boy balanced himself on his good foot and lifted the baby out of her crib. With some grunting and wavering, he was able to pick the baby girl out of her crib.

He sat on the rocking chair and winced. “Ow.”

The baby cried in his arms as his feet hurt from putting pressure on them.

Using his good foot, he rocked himself gently in the chair, cradling the baby against his chest.

Robbie sang in a quiet voice as the baby's cries slowly diminished.

“When at night I go to sleep
Fourteen angels watch do keep;
Two my head are guarding,
Two my feet are guiding;
Two are on my right hand,
Two are on my left hand,
Two who warmly cover
Two who o'er me hover,
Two to whom 'tis given
To guide my steps to heaven.”

Cassie's sobs slowly became quiet as she looked up at the teen holding her and rocking her. Robbie smiled down at her, amazed that the baby was quiet and watching him intently.

Robbie leaned down and kissed the baby girl's forehead. “Who's a good baby girl?”

The infant snuggled into Robbie's arms as Robbie continued singing.

“Sleeping sofly, then it seems
Heaven enters in my dreams;
Angels hover round me,
Whisp'ring they have found me;
Two are sweetly singing,
Two are garlands bringing,
Strewing me with roses
As my soul reposes.
God will not forsake me
When dawn at last will wake me.”

Robbie rocked back and forth on the chair and reached into the crib to get her pacifier. “Is this what you wanted, Cassie?”

Robbie put the pacifier in the baby's mouth and watched her suckle the nipple. The teen smiled down at her and looked into her eyes.

Her eyes looked up in wonder at him, examining his face as she sucked on the pacifier.

Robbie grabbed the blanket from the crib and placed it over her.

“That's a good girl, Cassie. Good girl.”

Robbie sighed as he looked down at the girl. `She's so cute! All she does is lay there and look up at me. What is she thinking? I wonder…..I wonder if Aten ever wants to be a father. Considering his past, it might not go over too well with him.'

The baby girl's eyes started to flutter.

Robbie rocked the girl in his arms slowly and chuckled as the baby yawned, the pacifier tumbling out of her mouth.

Mokuba opened the door. “Robbie! When did you and Aten get back from the honeymoon?”

“Just a few minutes ago. Aten wanted to see Seto and Joey. I heard the baby crying, so I came in to see what was wrong. I didn't see Jeanie, so I took care of her for you.”

Mokuba walked up to Robbie and smiled down at the sleepy baby girl laying in Robbie's arms. “Poor thing looks tired. Jeanie's got a little bit of a fever, so that's why she couldn't come. I held her hair back as she was getting sick. Thanks for taking care of Cassie, Robbie.”

Robbie shrugged and smiled at the younger Kaiba. “It wasn't a big deal. I love kids…..especially babies.”

“How was your honeymoon?”

“Oh it was fun! We went to a luau, walked on the beach, we walked along the boardwalk. Around noon, Aten started having chest pains, so he went back to the hotel to sleep them off. When Aten was taking a nap, I went out and rode some of the rides I know he can't go on. The roller coaster was huge! We went to a nice restaurant that served awesome Chinese food! It was the perfect setting.”

Mokuba smiled. “Well, you both came back in one piece. That's a good thing. Asher scares the hell out of me when I fly with him.”

The other teen laughed. “Yeah…for a while there I thought Asher was going to crash the plane.”

“Well, it's good to have you guys back. Glad you had a good time.”

Robbie looked down at Cassie, who was smiling up at him. “Aww…she's smiling at me! Who's a happy girl? Are you happy? Huh? Yeah, she's happy!” Robbie held the baby in his arms and pretended to grab her nose.

“Got your nose, Cassie! You want it back? Okay.”

Robbie pretended to put her nose back.

The baby laughed and reached up to touch Robbie's face.

“She really likes you, Robbie! Do you think you'll want kids some day?”

Robbie shrugged. “I don't know. When Aten's gone, I won't have anyone, really. I'll just have mom and dad. I've never really thought about having a kid or adopting one.”

“What about surrogate mothering? Pay someone to carry your baby or Aten's baby for you.”

Robbie snickered. “Oh, I couldn't do that….”

“Why not? It would be your kid…or Aten's.”

“I don't know,” Robbie shrugged. “I don't know any girls. Well, I know Aria, but that's too creepy if Aten's sperm is used. That family is nuts enough without in-breeding. I could search for agencies that have surrogate mothers available, but I don't know. I'd rather know the girl. This way I know what I'm getting into.”

”Would you sleep with the girl to get her pregnant?”

Robbie bit his lip in thought. “I only want to be with Aten. But, if I have to do it, I guess I can. That's a tough question.”

“But it made you think.”

“If that was the only way to do it, I'd do it for Aten and I.”

Mokuba smiled. “You're good with kids. Maybe you could take Cassie and the kids overnight some time if you really wanted a dose of fatherhood.”

The younger Kaiba took his daughter from Robbie and held her up in the air. “Who's my little angel? Who's my girl?”

Cassie giggled as her father held her up in the air.

“That's right! You're my little girl! My little poop machine!”

Robbie snickered. “That's your pet name for her? `Poop Machine'?”

Mokuba laughed. “Nah, I wouldn't call my baby that and be mean about it.” Mokuba's nose wrinkled. “But, it seems like she needs to be changed again.”

The father walked his baby over to the changing table. He lifted the baby's dress and wrinkled his nose.

“Oh, Cassie…that's the last time you have peaches, baby girl.”

Robbie watched as Mokuba removed the dirty diaper. “That's the grossest thing I have ever seen in my life.”

Mokuba held his breath as he changed the dirty diaper. He wiped the baby girl and powdered her. He put a new diaper on her.

“There we go, Cassie! You don't stink anymore! No stinky baby! Happy baby!”

Mokuba pressed his lips to her stomach and blew, making the baby laugh and squeal. He repeated it and the baby giggled and waved her arms happily.

“That's my baby girl!” Mokuba said with a smile.

“Is it easier to change a girl's diaper?”

Mokuba nodded. “Oh yeah…you don't get peed on. I swear. I ducked and Ceres STILL got me!”

Robbie snickered. “That must not have been fun.”

Mokuba jiggled a toy above Cassie and watched her grab it and cuddle it against her. `I wonder if Aten and I will ever…….'

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

Aten heard Seto on the phone in his office. Seto's raised voice and angry tone scared him. Seto was not a pleasant person to be around when he was angry.

Ivy ran out of the library and gasped. “Aten!!!!”

Aten lifted the girl up. “Hello, Lovely Ivy! How is my girl?”

Ivy smiled. “I'm good. I'm pwaying hide and seek wif Lily. Haff you teen her?”

“Hmm…can't say that I have. I'll keep my eyes out for her.”

“Mommy is not feewing well.”

Aten shook his head. `Good gods, Mokuba, give the poor girl a rest! Poor Jeanie.'

“Is that so? Well, she needs her rest, Ivy.”

“I know. Dat's why Lily and I are pwaying wif no noise.”

Aten put the girl back on the ground. “That's a good girl. You go find Lily.”

“Otay!”

Aten walked to the end of the hall and saw Joey sitting and painting in the studio. “Hello, Un-tle Puppy.”

Joey continued to paint.

“Un-tle Puppy?” Aten asked as he cautiously entered.

“Un-tle Ch-o-ey?”

Joey put down his brush and turned his head away from Aten. “Hi, Aten. How was your honeymoon with Robbie?”

“It was fun. What's wrong?”

Joey leaned over and started crying. Aten ran up to Joey and kneeled next to him. “What's wrong, Ch-o-ey?”

“Hayden…..we saw Hayden yesterday.”

“Oh….how is he these days?”

Joey sniffled and grabbed a tissue from the almost-empty box. “He's been better, Aten.”

“Is he sick?”

“He's more cruel than before….the things he said….we so mean! I'll never have my son back……never.”

Aten rubbed Joey's back. “Maybe I should go speak with him. Maybe I'll be able to talk some sense into him.”

“Aten, it's too dangerous for you to see him. It's best if you don't go.”

Aten shrugged. “I'll bring my Silver Rod with me. Besides, my Rod looks good hanging on my hip.”

Joey tried not to laugh. “You know, Aten, only you and your father can mention `Rod' and `Hang' in the same sentence.”

Aten smiled proudly. “Well, I am an Ishtar, you know.”

“Truth. So, did you twist Robbie into a human pretzel?”

“You know I did.”

Joey chuckled. “What is it with you Ishtars twisting your lovers into shapes and pretzels?”

Aten smiled at Joey….a smile that resembled more of his father than his mother. “Because we can….and we like

it.”

Joey shook his head. “What are we going to do with you, Aten?”

Aten smiled innocently. “I don't know.”

The blond sighed. “I'm sorry, Aten. I didn't mean to cry on you.”

“Hey, that's okay. I've cried on you enough times.”

Joey hugged Aten tightly. “Thank you.”

Aten hugged the blond back. “Don't mention it. I don't want to bother Seto. He seems pretty angry. Can you tell him I stopped by to say hello?”

“Sure thing.”

“Thank you! Is Jaimen around?”

Joey laughed. “Nope. He's out with his friends. Jaimen went to see a movie with his new girlfriend….and some of his buddies.”

Aten chuckled. “Okay. See you later.”

Aten walked down the hall to Cassie's room. He opened the door and saw Robbie hovering over the baby girl playing `Itsy Bitsy Spider.'

“Come on, Robbie. Time to go.”

“Aww…look at her, Aten!”

Aten walked in slowly and looked down at the baby. Robbie held Mokuba's baby girl up.

“Just look at that face!”

Mokuba laughed from the chair. “Robbie's keeping her occupied, Aten.”

“I see. Come on, Robbie. We have to get that videotape to the cops and we have to go see Aiden.'

“What?!” Mokuba gasped. “Aten, that's not a good idea.”

“Why do we have to go?” Robbie asked. “It doesn't bother me, but it is kind of sudden.”

“Ch-o-ey is upset about stuff that Aiden said. Maybe I can talk some sense into him.”

Mokuba stood up. “Aten, I really think it is a bad idea for you to go see him!”

“I can handle myself, Mo-t-uba.”

Robbie stood up and returned the baby to her father. “Bye, Cassie! Be a good girl for daddy!”

Aten shuddered and turned. [Aten, Be a good boy for granddaddy…..]

“I have to go, Robbie….let's go. Please?”

“Bye, Mokuba!” Robbie smiled as he waved goodbye.

Aten walked away, trying to keep Robbie's goodbye out of his mind.

Through the journey home, Aten kept quiet. He and Robbie looked into Captain Smiley Buns and saw Marik tapping his fingers impatiently on the counter.

“Let's go in!” Robbie exclaimed.

Robbie pulled Aten into the restaurant before he could object.

Marik tapped his fingers on the counter. “Lady, you have two choices….A Pirate's Baked Potato….or Silly String Fries.”

The elderly woman looked at the menu over Marik's head. “Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm………Uhhhh…”

Marik's right eye twitched. “Do you want your potato baked or fried in grease?”

“Ummmmmmmmmm…..”

“Lady, I'm going to lose my patience and you don't want to see me get angry. Baked or fried?”

Aten smiled and waved to his father. “Hello, father!”

“Aten!!! How are you boys? How was your honeymoon?”

“Fine! Great!” Robbie said shifting his weight.

“Umm….”

“FOR THE LOVE OF RA, LADY, MAKE UP YOUR MIND! PIRATE'S BAKED POTATO OR FUCKING SILLY STRING FRIES THAT HAVE BEEN FRIED IN GREASY, SLIMY, PIG FAT!!!! BAKED OR FAT! MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!!!!!”

“I believe I will have your stuffed peppers, young man.”

Marik's eye twitched again. “We don't have stuffed peppers……Do you even know where you are? The word `pepper' isn't even on the menu.”

“Okay…I'll have your sauerkraut.”

Marik balled his hands into fists. “We don't have that. Try again.”

Aten leaned into the woman. “My father makes excellent steamed broccoli.”

The woman turned around. “Wait your turn, young man.”

“That's it, lady! ONE BAKED POTATO!”

Marik growled as he added her order. “That comes to $6.49. Pay up.”

The woman lifted her purse and dug her hands inside. She pulled out a handful of change.

“You've got to be shittin' me, lady,” Marik groaned.

“Five cents……..nine cents…….fifteen……….twenty three…..”

Marik leaned on the cash register. “Lady, you are making me want to kill……again.”

“Twenty nine……..thirty four cents……..”

Marik groaned in fury. “You boys hungry?”

“No, we just came to see you.”

Marik walked around the side of the counter. “Aten, come here a moment. Jerry! Cover for me!”

Jerry walked over to the countertop and watched the woman count her money.

Robbie watched Jerry intently. `He seems familiar…… Where do I know him from?'

Marik brought Aten into the back room. Marik removed his pirate hat and brought Aten close to his body. He kissed his son on either cheek and held him tightly.

“My boy…….”

Aten shifted his eyes. “Father, what is wrong?” Aten felt his father pet his hair.

“It's over now, Aten….Shhh….”

Aten pushed against Marik, but it did no good to free him from his father's strong grip. “Father, what's the matter?”

“Aten, Itemri and I saw the videotape.”

Aten gasped and pushed against his father. “Let me go!”

With a violent shove, Aten separated himself from his father's grasp. “YOU WATCHED MY TAPE?! That's right! Mother came over worried sick about me! Why did you do that?!”

“Aten, we wanted to make sure there was nothing on there before we taped over something.”

Aten's hair spiked. “That was not meant for you!”

“Why didn't you tell Bakura and I earlier?”

“Because I just couldn't come up to you and tell you what Yami did! I couldn't see his face at the time! I was too preoccupied at the time!”

Marik reached out to hold Aten again and Aten snarled at him.

“I couldn't come to you, father, because it's hard for me to talk about that stuff! Dr. Chapman is still trying to get the full story! I haven't talked to ANYONE about what happened! I was going to use that to clear Malik's name.”

“Aten, I'm your father! I could have protected you.”

Aten shook his head. “No, father. You couldn't have. You weren't meant to see that. I didn't want anyone to see that! You violated my space! HOW DARE YOU!”

“Aten, I---.”

“Mother was worried sick! I don't know what was worse: the fact that mother was upset…..or you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!”

“Just a minute, Chibi Ishtar!”

Aten snarled. “No! No minute! I'm leaving and taking that tape to the cops! Then Robbie and I are going to visit Aiden!”

Marik gasped. “Aten! Wait!”

Marik grabbed Aten's wrist and his yami son whipped around. A fast fist slammed into Marik's jaw, making the yami lose his balance.

“Don't touch me without my permission!”

Aten kicked his father back into the lockers.

Marik fell to the ground and looked up at his son. He wiped the blood off of his lips and swallowed hard.

The blond yami snarled and jumped to his feet. “You little shit!”

Aten snarled. “You have no business breaking into my property!”

“I would watch your tongue, boy! You may be married, but I deserve some respect!”

“Respect? You flip fries and burgers for a living!”

Marik snarled. “I did that to put food in your belly and medicine in you so you wouldn't die on me!”

Yami Aten snarled. “I never asked you to keep me alive! You did that yourself!”

“Of course I did it! I didn't want to lose you! I love you!”

Yami Aten growled. “If you loved me, you wouldn't have invaded my privacy!”

“It was an accident!”

“BULLSHIT!”

Robbie ran into the locker room and saw Yami Marik slap Yami Aten across the face, sending Aten to the floor.

“ATEN!” Robbie gasped as he ran to Aten's side.

“Watch your tone with me, young man!”

Yami Aten turned and kicked Marik in the knee sending him down to the ground again.

Yami Aten pushed Robbie aside and threw himself at Marik, punching and growling.

Yami Marik grabbed his son's bony, thin wrist and tossed him on his side. The blond yami kneeled beside Aten and pinned the boy's chest down with his knee.

Robbie scurried over to Marik and yanked back on Marik's collar. “MR. ISHTAR! STOP! YOU'LL HURT HIM!”

Yami Marik pressed down, blinded by his rage. The teen pinned underneath his knee started wheezing for air as his father's weight pressed on his weak chest.

“MARIK! STOP!” Robbie pleaded as he grabbed Marik's hair and pulled.

The blond yami fell back as Robbie grabbed his hair. Before Yami Marik could get up, Robbie was cradling the wheezing yami teen in his arms. He put out his arm to stop Yami Marik from kicking Aten.

“Mr. Marik! Stop!”

“Robert Allen, step away!”

“Why are you fighting?”

Aten's hair fell as he felt the burn of his cheek. “Daddy?”

Marik growled at his son, his body trembling with rage.

Aten's brown and purple eyes looked up at his father with fear. “Da—daddy?”

The blond yami closed his eyes and his hair became less spiky. He looked down at Aten with a large handprint on his cheek. Robbie held Aten against him and stroked his hair.

“Robbie, did you hit Aten?”

“No! YOU did!” Robbie glared at Marik. “What was this all about?”

Marik leaned down to inspect Aten's red cheek, but the boy cowered back.

“No tush….daddy.”

“I saw the videotape you boys made. I went to Yami and kicked him in the ass.”

Robbie cradled Aten against him. “Yami's not the only one that needs a kick in the ass! It's just a videotape! Whatever happened to Aten was going to come out anyway! Was there a need to start a fight? Was that a reason to hit him like that? HOW DARE YOU!”

Robbie grabbed his cane and whacked Marik's leg. “Get away from him! Get away!”

Marik narrowed his eyes. “Morgan, you're treading on dangerous territory!”

“I didn't back down from you the first time when I asked your permission to marry Aten. What makes you think I'm going to back down from you now?”

Marik and Robbie locked threatening gazes. Aten clung to Robbie tightly, his frightened eyes looking up at his father.

“You boys better go. Right now,” Marik said quietly. “Both of you.”

Robbie used his cane to help him to his feet. “Let's go, Aten.”

Aten struggled to his feet and looked up at his father. “I'm sorry. I…just wanted to prove Malik's issonence.”

Marik watched Aten pass. “Son?”

“Yes?” Aten asked, keeping his head turned away from his father. “Come here.”

Robbie watched as Aten walked before his father, he head lowered submissively.

“Yes, father.”

Marik grabbed Aten's shoulder with one hand and tilted his chin up with the other hand. Robbie had noticed that even when Aria was in trouble, and her parents summoned her, her head would always be slightly bowed. Aten's was always bowed lower and was inherently more submissive than his sibling.

“Aten, I'm sorry that I watched that video. I should not have watched it without your permission. I am very sorry. Do you think you can forgive me?”

Aten looked into his father's eyes and slowly touched his own cheek, still stinging with the force of the slap.

“I love you, father,” Aten whimpered as he hugged his father tightly.

Robbie watched Marik hug his son tightly.

Marik held onto Aten and closed his eyes tightly. “I'm so sorry, Aten…..I…I couldn't control myself. I'll….I'll never be able to forgive myself for striking you.”

Aten sniffled. Robbie watched Aten's face contort with pain. It took a lot of effort for Aten to turn yami. And every time he did, it always exhausted him.

Aten clung to his father tightly.

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

Robbie's POV

“Mom! We're home!” I called out as I opened the door.

Aten walked slowly behind me. He held my hand as we entered my home.

Mom clicked the T.V. off and smiled. “Hello, boys! Aten, what's wrong?”

Aten's eyes looked heavy as he released my hand. He slowly walked to the kitchen where I heard him rummaging through his medicine shelf. “Tired…chest….hurts.”

I have a feeling I'm going to have to take our videotape to the cops alone. Aten looks like he's in no condition.

Mom hugged me tightly. “Did you boys have fun on your honeymoon?”

“We sure did, mom! We went to a luau and I went on this huge roller coaster! Oh! It was scary! Then we went to a nice Chinese place for dinner!”

Aten returned to the living room and laid on the couch beside my mom.

“Aten? Did you get a drink for your pills?” I asked as I noticed his pills in his hand. “I'll get you some water.”

I grabbed a plastic cup in the kitchen and filled it with water. In the living room, Aten had his head on my mom's lap, his eyes fluttered, struggling to stay awake.

“here you go, baby,” I muttered.

Aten weakly took the cup and swallowed his pills with the water.

“So tell me more, Robbie,” mom said as she rubbed Aten's hair.

“I can't, mom, I have to go out for a bit. I have to take a video that Aten and I made to the cops. It proves that Malik is innocent of any of the crimes the media claims!”

“Robbie….let me go….for….protec….tion.”

“Oh, no you don't, mister, you stay here and---.”

Snoring.

Aten fell asleep on my mother's lap. His entire body went limp like a ragdoll. I would love to know how he does that!

“Wow…that was quick. I'll be right back, mom!”

I rushed upstairs quickly and found my dad walking out of his bedroom. “Hi, dad!..” I grabbed the videotape on my dresser. “Bye, dad!” I said as I descended the stairs.

“Robert, where are you going?”

“I have to go out for a little bit! I'll be right back!”

Dad walked down the steps and saw Aten fast asleep on my mom. “He looks tuckered out.”

Mom put her finger to her mouth. “Shhh…Aten's sleeping.”

I hugged my parents goodbye and kissed Aten's cheek. “I'll be right back, Aten.”

I clutched my cane and left.

As I walked down the street I saw Aria and Sekhmet outside.

“Hi, Aria!”

She's looking a little chubby these days….but unless I want to spend the rest of my natural life in the Shadow Realm, I won't say anything like that. No way!

“Hi, Robbie! What do you got?”

“I'm going to prove Malik's innocence! I'm taking this videotape to the cops. Come with me?”

Aria looked around. “Where's my brother?”

“At home sleeping.”

Aria shifted her weight as she leaned against the white gate surrounding the house. “How's he feeling?”

“Exhausted now. He'll be fine when he wakes up. We may have to wait until tomorrow to go see Hayden. We were going to visit him. Joey said that the doctors are having a hard time with him.”

Aria sighed. “It's a shame.”

I smiled at her. “So, will you come with me? Keep me company?”

Aria looked down at her dog. “Sekhmet….in.”

The dog lowered its head and ran to the door where he pawed at it lightly.

Malik opened the door. “Come in, boy. Hi, Robbie! Did you guys have fun?”

“Yup! Aria and I are going to go for a little walk! I'll have her back soon!”

Aria walked beside me. She was quiet at first. “Glad to see you enjoyed your honeymoon. Umi and I are going to look for boathomes tomorrow. I'm going to stay over his place tonight. We have lots of things to plan for.”

“Such as?”

Aria laughed. “Well, we have to plan for the baby's arrival.”

I stopped. Short. Again?! Damn, girl!

“You're pregnant again?”

Aria nodded. “Yes. I'm hoping that this baby lives. Malik gave me a good luck charm. I just hope it works.”

I continued walking. “So do I, Aria.”

When we hit the row of shops, Aria stopped and looked at the window of a baby store.

“Robbie, I have to go in! Look at that cute little walker! I'll just be a second!”

Aria ran into the store and I leaned against the front of the store.

Aria, I'm in a hurry!

I tapped my cane on the ground and clutched the videotape in my hand.

What the---?!!!!

A pair of hands grabbed me and pulled me into the narrow alley by the store.

The hands turned me around so quickly, I nearly dropped my cane.

It was then that I looked into the familiar pair of soul-less, masochistic eyes of my assailant…….

Updates: Sunday