Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ Pick Your Battles ( Chapter 16 )

WARNING: MARIK X MALIK YAOI LEMON!!!!! HOT, SWEATY, EGYPTIAN MALE X MALE SEX!!!! (finally)

 

Pick Your Battles

 

Malik turned off the television with a yawn. “Do you see them, Ry?”

Ryou shook his head. “No, I haven't. I hope they didn't run into any trouble.”

“You're forgetting, Ryou. Our yamis can be nothing but trouble. Marik's middle name is trouble. His full name should be `Marik Jibade Troublemaker Ishtar.'”

“I thought all Ishtars were troublemakers,” Ryou giggled.

Malik stood up and brushed his hair over his shoulders with a grin. “You're just jealous! We proudly wear our troublemaking badges with honor!”

Ryou laughed loudly. “Bakura is just as bad making trouble for himself!”

“Nothing like Marik, though, Ry!”

“Yeah, you might be right.”

Ryou and Malik heard the slamming of car doors. Maxine stood up by the door and withdrew her weapon. She pointed the gun towards the door as the doorknob turned.

“Ryou! Malik! It's us!” Marik said as he opened the door. He jumped back as he saw the gun in Maxine's hand. “Damn it, girl, put that thing away! I've already been hit by one of those things tonight!”

Malik saw Marik's shoulder, swollen with stitches. He ran to his yami and examined the wound. “What happened to you?”

“Itemri and I were chased by that white van. The car has some damage, Malik.”

Ryou gasped. “How bad is it?”

“The back window is shot out and the windshield has a few bullet holes in it.”

“No, I meant your shoulder,” Ryou said, touching Marik's hand.

Marik winced. “Some time in my Rod and I should be fine by the time morning comes. For now, it hurts like a bitch.”

Malik kissed Marik's cheek. “I'm glad you're back in one piece.”

The blond yami grinned and rubbed Malik's ass. “Don't worry. I'm a big yami. I tie my own shoes and everything.”

Bakura walked into the kitchen and Ryou followed him. The white-haired yami splashed water on his face and closed his eyes.

“Bakura, are you okay?” Ryou asked, standing behind him.

“I'm fine, don't worry about me. It's just the smell of Marik's blood.”

Ryou nodded. “I see. The bloodlust.”

“I thought Marik and I were going to tumble down that ravine, Ry. I had to think quickly. I managed to force that van to tip and roll and burst into flames.”

Ryou walked up behind Bakura and put his arms around Bakura from behind. “I'm glad you're safe.”

Bakura nodded. “It was a gamble, but I won.”

Bakura turned around and put his arms around Ryou and held him close. “I'm glad to be home.”

“OW!” Marik cried out.

“Ewww….it feels squishy! Let me do that again!” Malik giggled.

“OW! STOP POKING IT!” Marik protested.

Bakura shook his head as he pet Ryou's hair. “What are we going to do with them?”

“Marik will go into the Rod soon. Then it will be quiet.”

Bakura grinned. “Lucky us, hmm?”

Ryou giggled and hugged Bakura tighter.

“Will you stop poking it, Malik?!” Marik growled.

“I can't! I poke things! That's what I do!” Malik giggled loudly.

“OW! THAT'S IT!”

A moment of silence came from the room. Malik walked in holding the Millennium Rod.

“Marik disappeared into the Rod, but if he thinks he's getting away from me, he's sadly mistaken! Goodnight, you two!”

Bakura and Ryou waved. “Goodnight!”

Malik ran up the stairs laughing.

Bakura and Ryou went to the living room and saw Maxine sitting by the door. “If you want to sleep, we can bring down some blankets and a pillow for you.”

“No thank you, Bakura. A warrior must remain sharp. Thank you anyway.”

“If you want anything to eat or drink, Maxie, feel free to help yourself,” Ryou said. “You can watch a movie, too, if you want,” Ryou added.

“Just one thing, Maxie, if you play the PS2, be careful of Marik's Final Fantasy games. If he finds a scratch on one, he'll go ballistic. He's very protective of those things.”

Maxine nodded. “Thank you.”

“Have a good night, Maxine,” Ryou added.

Bakura followed Ryou upstairs and into the bedroom. Bakura removed his clothes and went to the bathroom to wash up. He returned to find Ryou in bed.

The yami walked around the side of the bed and slipped under the covers beside his mate. He draped his arm over Ryou and sighed contentedly. “This makes today sooooo worth it,” he smiled.

Ryou smiled back and rested his head against Bakura. “Bakura, I'm worried about Aten.”

“Well, Ry, he's living on borrowed time now. He's proven himself to be a very strong kid.”

Ryou nodded. “I know. It seemed that Aten didn't even recognize his father and I.”

Bakura ran his fingers through Ryou's hair. “I know when I was in Yami's cell, there were times when I didn't believe that reality was real.”

“I wish I knew why he didn't seem to recognize us.”

Bakura nuzzled Ryou's hair with his cheek. “Maybe he hasn't slept well, Ry. That could account for a lot of what happened.”

“That's very true.”

“I don't know much about medicine, though. Damn it, Jim, I'm a thief, not a doctor.”

Ryou giggled. “You are too much.”

Bakura grinned and pet Ryou's hair. “I try.”

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

 

Malik laid on his bed, clutching the Millennium Rod to his chest. He closed his eyes and retreated into his soulroom. He grinned, knowing that Marik wasn't going to get away from him.

Marik was in his own soulroom, most likely nursing his wound and treating it gingerly. He looked around at his bare soulroom, thinking that he had to improve it. He had to decorate it with something. Ryou described his soulroom and it seemed to be a very comfortable place. But Malik knew he wanted more.

He snickered quietly as he thought of the possibilities: a hot tub, a massage table, maybe even a medieval Rack. Thoughts of chaining Marik to the table and pouring hot fudge over Marik's naked body made him smile.

“Oh yeah, baby……I'd like that.”

Malik opened up the door and stepped into the red carpet-lined hallway. Marik's gold door was shut tightly.

He turned the gold handle quietly and cracked the door open slightly, enough to peek his eye inside.

Marik was sitting by the fireplace in his room, rubbing his hurt shoulder. The shadows of the fire danced on the Persian rug beneath Marik. The yami took a drink from a gold goblet decorated with blue and red stones.

Malik snuck into the room, closing the door behind him. Marik turned his head as Malik hid behind a pillar. Malik looked down at the sand pit in the corner with a single rose on the sand.

`I'm surprised Marik still has this here. This is where he died and was buried….Sand from the desert.'

Marik turned from the sound by the corner and continued to rub his aching shoulder. “Damn this hurts,” he said, lapping at the water thirsty.

Malik crept to behind Marik's bed. The bed with white satin sheets and feather pillows were elevated a few steps off the ground. Malik looked around the side of the bed and saw Marik lay on his back with his eyes closed.

Malik's amethyst eyes watched his shirtless yami sigh on the floor with a pillow under his head.

The yami yawned and gave a quiet moan as he relaxed in front of the fireplace. Malik grinned and crept around the side of the bed.

“HI, YAMI!” Malik cried out as he jumped on top of Marik.

Marik's eyes shot wide open and he let out a cough as Malik jumped on top of his yami.

“What the hell?!” Marik gasped.

“I came to surprise you. You're not getting away from me as easy as disappearing into the Rod!”
Marik winced in pain. “My shoulder hurts.”

Malik straddled Marik's hips and looked down at the red mark. “It doesn't look as bad now.”

“Yeah, I'm glad I can rejuvenate in my soulroom.”

Malik grinned down at his yami and ran his finger along Marik's chest. “So, yami, how are you feeling?”

Marik winced. “Shoulder still hurts.”

Malik leaned down and kissed Marik's red shoulder.

“OW! That hurts, hikari!”

“I'm just trying to make you feel better,” Malik smiled, innocently.

Marik sighed. “It hurts.”

Malik leaned down and kissed Marik's chin. “I can make you forget about the pain.”

The yami raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? How do you plan to do that?”

“Watch,” Malik whispered, before kissing Marik deeply, his tongue slipping past Marik's lips. Malik's hands slowly touched Marik's chest, rubbing slowly.

The yami's dark hands touched Malik's thighs and reached up to Malik's hips. He lowered his left arm with a wince.

Marik broke the kiss, looking up into the purple eyes of his hikari. “I can't lift my arm too high.”

Malik placed his finger on Marik's lip. “Shhhh….yami.”

With another kiss, Malik's fingers brushed across Marik's nipple. The yami whimpered into the kiss, gyrating his hips against his Light above him.

Malik pulled back from the kiss and saw the other blond breathless from the intensity of the kiss. “Did you forget about your shoulder yet?”

Marik took a deep breath. “Almost.”

Malik leaned over and licked up the side of Marik's neck, letting his tongue flick behind his left earlobe.

Another desperate whimper escaped him as he felt Marik's right hand slip between his own legs and begin to rub softly.

“You like that, don't you, Marik?”

“You know I like it there,” the yami moaned as Malik licked behind his ear again.
Malik licked Marik's ear again and smiled. “You want me?”

Marik unzipped Malik's pants and slipped his hands into Malik's underwear. He touched his hikari's arousal, running this fingers over the skin. “I think we both know the answer to that,” he quipped.

Malik took Marik's arm and shook his head. “Not so fast, tiger.” Malik removed Marik's hand and placed it on his chest. “Allow me.”

Malik reached into his own pants and rubbed his arousal. He freed his own arousal and smiled down at his yami. “Enjoying the show?” Malik grinded himself against Marik. “Oh! I think I just got my answer!”

“How could I not enjoy it?” Marik grinned, rubbing his own chest and grinding up against Marik.

Malik reached lower and let out a low moan. “I'm enjoying it.”

The yami grabbed Malik's jeans and pulled them down. The Light shifted to allow the jeans and underwear to be peeled off of him.

Malik removed his shirt and continued to touch himself with a grin. “This is a comfortable rug. I can do this all night.”

Marik began to wince uncomfortably. “I don't know if I can watch you do this all night. I might burst.”

“Oh, you won't burst.”

“You wanna make a bet?!”

Malik grinned, grinding against Marik's hips. Marik watched Malik's arousal harden under his own solo touch.

The yami closed his eyes and moaned as he felt his own arousal harden under Malik.

“Malik, I have to get this off…..”

Malik grinned. “You can have some patience, Marik. Here, maybe this will help you feel better.”

Malik shifted up and allowed Marik's tongue to give it a little lick. He pursed his lip around the tip and swallowed around the twitching flesh. Malik moaned and giggled.

“Easy there, tiger.”

Marik's eyes locked onto Malik's as he suctioned lightly on the hardening flesh.

Malik reached behind and began fumbling with Marik's pants. He reached inside and gave his yami a reciprocating touch.

Marik moaned around Malik and reached under him, rubbing gently. Malik's hand wrapped around Marik's arousal, sighing as pleasure spread through his body.

Marik moved his hips up at his Light's touch. He deep-throated around his mate, making his Light tremble. He pulled back, licking a small trail of clear pre-cum from Malik's tip.

Malik reached further under Marik's undercarriage and groped the two spheres at Marik's base.

The Light shifted back from the yami's chest and down towards Marik's legs. He slowly pulled down Marik's pants and removed them.

“How's your shoulder now?”

“That's not hurting as much as something else,” Marik chuckled, touching himself.

“At least that doesn't hurt anymore,” the Egyptian hikari said with a grin.

Marik nodded. “That's much better now.”

“Well, why stop a good thing, hmm?” Malik grinned, crawling up Marik's legs and swallowed around Marik's arousal.

Marik breathed in air through his teeth and reached down to run his fingers through Malik's hair. Malik's eyes locked onto Marik's again as he licked and swallowed around Marik.

The Egyptian yami laid his head back on the pillow, whimpering and moving his hips up towards Malik's wet heat.

The hikari lifted his head. “Have any lube?”

Marik grinned. “When don't I have that stuff laying around?” The yami looked behind him and reached above his head to a table drawer. He removed some lube from the table and opened it up.

“It doesn't surprise me that you have that nearby the fireplace.”

Marik grinned. “Fireplaces are sexy, especially when you are alone and you need some alone time.”

Malik kissed Marik's stomach and up to his chest with little kisses. He straddled Marik's hips. “So, do you want the honor?”

Marik sat up and pulled Malik into a hungry kiss. “Don't mind if I do.” The yami kissed Malik deeply and slicked two fingers with the lube.

The fire beside them crackled as Marik slipped a finger slowly into his hikari's entrance. Malik whimpered into Marik's kiss and wrapped his arms around Marik's shoulders.

Marik pulled back slightly from the kiss and smiled at his husband. “Shhh…relax, tenshi.”

Malik licked Marik's lips and smiled back.

The yami worked his finger slowly deeper into Malik's body. The hikari's sweat was visible by the firelight. Marik kissed Malik's jaw and licked Malik's earlobe.

“Hold on tight,” Marik whispered into his ear, before slipping another digit into Malik's body.

A long, desperate whimper escaped Malik as his body stretched. Marik kissed Malik's ear. “Damn you are hot,” the yami moaned. The yami wrapped his free hand around Malik's weeping arousal and stroked it slowly.

Malik thrust into Marik's hand as Marik touched him inside.

“That's it, baby,” Marik whispered gently, kissing Malik's lips hungrily.

Marik removed his fingers and slicked his own straining arousal with lube. Malik reached behind himself and positioned Marik at his entrance. He slowly slipped himself onto Marik's arousal burying his yami inside his body.

Marik held onto Malik tightly, kissing Malik's neck. Marik's hand left Malik's arousal and rubbed Malik's stomach.

“You feel so good, tenshi,” the Egyptian yami grinned at his partner.

Malik smiled back, rocking against Marik steadily. “So do you, Yami Marik.”

Marik laid back and watched Malik rock on top of him. Malik reached down and touched himself as he increased his pace on his yami.

“Sweet Ra,” Malik moaned, slamming himself on Marik's arousal harder.

Marik closed his eyes and arched his back, his mind swirling with pleasure. He reached up and placed his hands on Malik's hips. He thrust up into Malik's body, breathing heavy.

Malik slammed himself harder on Marik's arousal, burying Marik deeper inside of him. His own breathing increased as a single thrust by Marik sent him seeing stars.

“Do that again!” Malik moaned loudly.

Marik repeated the thrust harder, making Malik screaming in pleasure.

Malik rocked hard against Marik's body, perspiring and stroking himself faster.

Marik placed his hand over Malik's and helped stroke him faster. The Egyptian hikari whimpered as his yami thrust into him deep, hard, and fast.

“Can't hold on much longer…..”

Marik sat up again and gave a sudden, deep thrust into Malik's body. “Do it.”

Malik gripped Marik's shoulders and thrust into Marik's hand. “Hold on…”

“Don't hold on to it, Malik,” Marik grinned, tipping Malik's hand up. “Just let it go.”

Malik arched his back, his body shaking, and released hard between himself and his yami. Marik kissed Malik hungrily and released hard into Malik's body. He continued to pound into Malik's body. The hikari gave a loud moan into Marik's mouth.

Marik pulled back from the kiss to hear Malik's whimpering. “I love that sound.”

Malik's head fell on Marik's shoulder panting. Marik nuzzled Malik's hair with his cheek.

“Thanks for making it better,” Marik sighed, catching his breath.

“Anytime,” Malik panted.

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

Miranda tapped her finger on the table as she held onto the phone. She took a sip of her coffee and yawned.

Dr. Zira's secretary had said that the doctor had just arrived at the office and she would have to wait for him to settle before he picked up the phone.

The wait would be worth it.

[Dr. Zira speaking.]

“Dr. Zira, this is Mrs. Morgan. I hate to bother you so early.”

[It's not every day you call me before the office opens, so I understand you have a good reason for calling this early.]

“Dr. Zira, something is wrong with Aten, I feel it.”

[Tell me what is going on.]

“Last night, Aten saw his parents and didn't recognize either of them. It was if they were two strangers.”

[He didn't remember their names?]

“He only said mom and dad.”

[Hmm….well, Mrs. Morgan, it is possible that oxygen is not getting to Aten's brain. That pacemaker can force Aten's heart to beat, but Aten's brain is not getting the oxygen it needs. That's why he was having that temporary amnesia.]

“I've caught him talking to someone in the Studio. When I ask him who he is talking to, he points to the couch and says he has a visitor. Nobody is sitting there when he points to the couch.”

[Hmm…I'm betting that is the issue. Has he been wheezing?]

“Yes, it's getting harder for him to breathe.”

[You might need an oxygen machine for him when he needs it. I don't believe tinkering with his heart dosage will do much. I do not want to thin his blood out too much. I don't want him to expose him to clots, either. Let's try him on the oxygen machine.]

“Last night he fell down the steps, too.”

[I didn't get a call, so I assume that his injuries were not bad.]

“No, he said he felt weak and fell down only a few steps. Marik checked him and didn't find any broken bones.”

[Mrs. Morgan, I know this is difficult for you. How is Robbie holding up?]

“He's worried about Aten. The boys love each other and are trying to make things work between them.”

[Robbie has mentioned that he had lost two sisters, one to Dilated Cardiomyopathy.]

“Yes, Christa was young. It was a difficult process.”

[Did Christa behave the same way that Aten is currently behaving?]

Miranda gripped the handle on her coffee mug tightly. “She used to say `Angel' and point at somewhere in the room. She used to say she would have bad dreams. She had a hard time breathing and was eventually put on a respirator to help her breathe since she couldn't do it on her own.”

[I'm very sorry, Miranda. I wish there was more I could do, but I don't think tinkering with Aten's dosage is going to help. I would like to explore other possibilities before manipulating the medication dosages. Let's see if the oxygen machine will help, even if he uses it just at night.]

“We can see what the machine does. Maybe his blood thinner medication needs to be increased.”

[I don't want his blood to become too thin, though. I also don't want to prescribe him more medication. No meds I give him can give him more oxygen in his system. That heart muscle is not as strong as it could be, even with that pacemaker. Has Robbie considered Caregiver Support programs?]

“I don't think so. He's been talking to the priest at our church when he goes to church. Robbie does talk to Umi when they see each other. He doesn't talk to too man people.”

[The hospital has a Caregiver Support program you might want to mention. He can talk to people going through what he is right now. We also have programs for people who are caring for terminally ill spouses. Robbie's welcome to join that. And now that Robbie and Aten have a daughter, he can also join the New Parents Support group.]

“I'm not surprised that nobody has claimed her. Robbie's excited about being a daddy. I just worry that he is assuming too many responsibilities. He's only eighteen and is raising a daughter and caring for a dying significant other.”

[Robbie needs a good support system. He can't do this alone.]

“I know that, Dr. Zira, and I have told him that if he ever needs to talk to, my ear is open.”

[I know you support him, Mrs. Morgan. I have no doubt about that. He vents his frustrations to me, too. I just wish I could do more for both of them.]

Robbie yawned as he limped into the kitchen. “Morning, mom.”

“Morning, Robbie. Coffee's ready. I'll let you go. Thank you for your help.”

[Good luck, Miranda. Goodbye.]

Miranda hung up the phone. “How did you sleep?”

“I was restless last night. I didn't sleep very well.”

Miranda watched as Robbie gripped his cane tightly as he walked. The teen winced in pain when his foot bore his weight. “Is your foot hurting?”

Robbie nodded. “Yeah, it's not feeling too well today. I've been on it alot the past few days. It's no big deal.”

“Just take care of yourself, Robbie.”

“I try. Why is Aten sleeping on the couch? He went to bed with me last night.”

Miranda sipped from her coffee. “Robbie, I wanted to let you know that Aten fell down a few steps last night. He didn't hurt himself, but he said he felt weak.”

Robbie's eyes widened. “I didn't hear anything last night! I should have heard that!”

“Just be thankful he wasn't hurt.”

Robbie shook his head and put down the coffee pot. He covered his mouth with one hand and faced the wall. His eyes clamped shut as tears started to fall. “I shouldn't have been sleeping.”

“Robbie, you were tired after a long day at work. You need your sleep, too.”

Robbie shook his head and turned to his mother. “I SHOULD have been there by his side! I have no right to sleep when he hurts himself!”

“Robbie, you wouldn't have been able to catch him with one hand.”

“I am his husband! I should have been there! I am a lousy husband,” Robbie said, sniffling.

Miranda stood up and stepped in front of her son. “Don't talk about yourself that way, Robert Allen Morgan! Accidents happen. Last night was an accident. He wasn't hurt.”

Robbie grabbed his cup and limped towards the table. He sat down with an angry look on his face. “I'm not having any breakfast.”

“Robbie, you have to take care of yourself. You need to eat.”

Robbie shook his head. “I just want some coffee.”

Miranda returned to her seat and sipped from her own cup. Pushing Robbie's patience would do him no good now.

`Easy, Miranda, pick your battles. He's upset…..and with good reason.'

Aten walked into the kitchen slowly, his eyes bloodshot and tired. “I heard a noise.”

“Sorry, Aten, did I wake you up?” Robbie asked.

Aten shook his head. “No, I heard a voice.”

“What kind of voice?”

“A child's voice.”

Miranda and Robbie shook their heads. “Nobody here said anything. Mira's too young to talk yet.”

Aten walked slowly over to the basement door. He opened it up cautiously. “Is anyone down there?!” he called into the darkness.

Miranda watched Aten closely. He never wanted to go near the basement. One time he dared himself to go three steps down, but ran right back upstairs to the bedroom and slammed the door shut.

“Aten, there's nobody down there,” Robbie said calmly, rubbing his forehead.

“I heard someone. A child singing.”

Miranda walked behind Aten slowly. “I wouldn't go down there, Aten. You already fell down one set of stairs last night. These steps can hurt more.”

Miranda watched Aten's blank stare into the darkness.

“A child….a girl….singing.”

“Aten, why don't you sit down and I'll make you a hot cup of tea?”

Aten looked at her, his brown and purple eyes glazed over. “Tea? Like mother used to make?”

“Yes. I'll make it like he did.”

“Where is my mother?”

Miranda put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Ryou was over last night. You even spoke to him. Your father came over, too.”

Aten looked at the floor, trying to remember. “He did?”

Miranda nodded and guided Aten to his chair. “Yes, he did. You sit there, Aten, and I'll get you a hot cup of tea.”

Robbie stood up and limped to the medicine cabinet. “I'll get you your morning pills. I can use an aspirin myself.”

Robbie took a small cup and placed Aten's morning pills one by one into the cup. He opened up a bottle of medicine and saw it was empty. “Aten's out of this med! I thought he had a refill somewhere here.”

Robbie moved the bottles and pulled a similar bottle out of the cabinet. “I think this is it. I thought he was out of it.”

Robbie placed the cupful of pills in front of Aten. “Here you go.”

Aten looked at the pills absently. “For me?”

“I'll get you a cup of water,” Robbie said.

Daniel carried in Miracle, who was crying loudly and fussing. “Robbie, she's hungry.”

“Can you get her a bottle for me, dad? I'm trying to get Aten's water ready.”

Robbie poured Aten a cold cup of water and set it in front of Aten. “Take your pills. One at a time so you don't choke.”

Aten slowly grabbed each pill one by one and swallowed them with the water. Miranda placed a cup of warm tea in front of Aten.

“What do you want for breakfast?” Miranda asked.

“Breakfast?”

“I'll have some eggs and toast, mom,” Robbie said, sitting down and giving Miracle her bottle.

Aten looked up at Miranda. “Eggs only, please.”

Robbie yawned as he fed Miracle her bottle. “It's too early,” he groaned. “Did you sleep well, baby girl?”

The baby watched Robbie, nursing on the bottle slowly. Robbie smiled down at the baby.

“Aten, do you want to help me give her a bath tonight?”

Aten shifted uneasily in his sleep. “I'll have to see her naked.”

“Well, that's what happens when you bathe, Aten. Do you want to help? You can hold her while I give her a good spongebath.”

“I'll drop her.”

“You won't drop her. My foot is giving me a hard time today, Aten, and I might need your help.”

Aten shrugged. “I'll think about it.”

“I'd appreciate your help. I have a migraine and my foot is really hurting.”

Miranda cracked four eggs into a bowl. “Do you think you should go to work today?”

Robbie nodded. “I have to go. I'm saving my vacation time for a real emergency.”

The phone rang and Miracle began to fuss in Robbie's arms. Robbie grabbed the phone on the wall. “Hello?”

[Robbie, this is Marik. My car has….umm….a little boo-boo. We'll need some extra time to get to work.]

Robbie heard giggling and a loud burst of laughter from the other end of the line, including Marik's growl.

Robbie snickered. “The car has a boo-boo?”

[An owie.]

“Are you feeling okay, Marik?”

[Never better. I'm just being silly. I'll pick you up from your house so you don't have to walk here to my place.]

“Thanks, Marik. Goodbye.”

“What did he want?” Miranda asked.

Robbie sat back on the chair. “He's coming to pick me up. He said his car has a boo-boo.”

“I worry about that one,” Daniel said.

“Don't we all,” Robbie answered.

Miranda snickered and placed Robbie's toast and eggs on his plate. He placed the plate in front of her son. She plated Aten's eggs and put them in front of him. “There you go, boys. Come here, Miracle. Daddy needs to eat.”

Miranda picked up the baby and cuddled her. She watched Robbie dig hungrily into his breakfast.

Aten picked up a fork with a shaking hand. The egg fell off of the fork the first time he tried to feed himself. He tried again, but caught the food before it could fall onto the plate.

Miranda watched the Egyptian tremble and wheeze as he sat at the table. “Aten, I talked to Dr. Zira this morning.”

The brown and purple eyes raised from the plate. “What did he want?”

“I've been noticing you've been wheezing a lot. I talked to him about getting an oxygen machine for you. It could help you breathe better. What do you think?”

Aten shrugged. “I don't know.”

“Is it hard for you to breathe?”

“Yes.”

“I think it might help you.”

Aten shrugged. “Okay. I guess so.”

“Okay. I'll call Dr. Zira back.”

Robbie finished his breakfast and placed his dirty dishes in the sink. He limped back to Miranda and gave Miracle a kiss. “Who's my little girl?”

The baby's eyes examined Robbie as she started reaching for him. Robbie kissed her again. “Daddy's gotta get ready for work.”

Aten raised his head and reached out for Robbie's arm with his shaking hand. “Robbie?”

Robbie looked down at his husband, his eyes wide and glistening.

“I love you, Robbie.”

Robbie watched as a tear fell from Aten's eye. He wiped the tear away. “Aten, you don't have to cry.”

Aten's eyes closed tightly and a stream of tears fell from them. “I'm sorry, Robbie.”

Aten wrapped his arms around Robbie's waist and began sobbing into Robbie's stomach.

Robbie ran his fingers through

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

 

Umi looked up at the blue sky and took a deep breath. Rhett was sitting in his playpen, playing with blocks. “You smell that, son? That's the smell of the majestic ocean! That is the best smell known to man!”

Rhett piled three blocks on each other and clapped, giggling loudly.

Umi smiled at his baby boy and laughed. “Will you be a sea-faring fisherman when you get older, my son?”

Rhett took a block and put it in his mouth, sucking on the corner.

“I….Should I take that as a yes?”

Rhett giggled and put the block down.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Kai exclaimed, running out of the door.

“What is it, Little Minnow?”

Kai pointed to the door. “Mommy's throwing up again!”

“She is?”
Kai nodded happily. “Yup! Mommy's throwing up again!”

“I had better check on her. Kai, can you stay up here with Rhett?”

Rhett nodded. “Yes, daddy!”

Umi hugged his son and walked downstairs to the decks below. He heard Aria retching in the bathroom. He knocked on the door. “Aria, do you need help?”

“No,” she called before retching again.

Umi opened the door slowly and saw Aria kneeling over the toilet, holding her long, white spiky hair back. Umi stepped behind Aria and held her hair back as he vomited. When she was finished vomiting, she flushed the toilet and panted heavily.

“Better now?”

Aria stood up on shaky legs and showed Umi a pregnancy test. “I'm pregnant.”

 

Updates: 10/31