Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stronger Than Before ❯ chapter28 ( Chapter 28 )

Stronger Than Before

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, Dragondreamer would own Seto.

Warning: This story contains shouenen-ai (guy/guy relationships) and yaoi (guys having sex with guys). It also contains coarse language and violence. If you don't like it, or become offended by such things, take off already!

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Joey's thoughts

{…} Seto's thoughts

[[…]]Yami's thought and mind link to Yugi

//…// Yugi's thoughts and mind link to Yami

`yak, yak' Sadie's(AI) voice

~*~*~*~*~

YD: *smirk* In this chapter, I put Joey and Tris through their first "parent panic".

DD: That wasn't nice.

YD: But it was fun…plus, I got to mess with Otogi's mind too.

Otogi: Great! Is nobody safe?

YD: As if!

~*~*~*~*~

The impact of a small body rudely awoke Tristan from what little sleep he had managed to get. He opened his eyes to see an elfin face, inches from his own.

"Morn-aging, Papa!"

"Good morning, baby girl." Tristan put his arms around her. "Where's Daddy?"

Lexi snuggled happily into Tristan's arms, tucking her head under his chin. "Dow-a-tair. Da-ee mate beck-fat."

"And I suppose he sent you in here to wake me up."

"Yah-ha."

Tristan smiled and just lay there, enjoying the feeling of cuddling with Lexi. He heard the front door open and two familiar voices called out.

Lexi gasped and sat up on Tristan's chest.

"Ba-ra." She whispered, scrambling off the bed, running from the room.

Tristan laughed and got up, pulling on a pair of pants and following her.

Lexi was standing at the top of the stairs, bouncing up and down, clutching the banister with both hands.

"Papa!" She squealed. "Lexi dow-a-tair.! Tee Ba-ra!"

Tristan picked her up and carried her down the staircase, setting her on her feet once he reached the bottom and began squirming. He followed as she ran into the kitchen.

"BA-RA!"

Bakura nearly dropped the coffee pot as something crashed into him. Setting it carefully on the counter, he reached down and pried Lexi off his leg, picking her up.

"Good morning, Lexi-girl!" Bakura kissed her cheek.

"Good morning, Lexi." Ryou came to stand beside them, kissing the child as well.

"Hey-doe, Ree!" Lexi reached out and patted Ryou's long hair.

Tristan crossed over to the stove, where Joey was cooking breakfast, and put his arms around him.

"Mmmm…" Joey purred as Tristan kissed his neck. "Good morning, angel. Want some eggs?"

Tristan just shook his head and headed for the coffee pot, greeting his two white haired friends. He poured himself a coffee and sat sown at the table, wrapping his hands around the mug.

"You look like shit, Tristan." Bakura sat down across from him, Lexi in his lap.

Ryou slapped his lover across the back of the head. "Watch your mouth, yami!"

Tristan grinned. "I didn't get much sleep."

"I know." Joey set a plate of scrambled eggs down in front of Lexi and handed her a spoon. "You must have just fallen asleep when I got up. I couldn't wake you."

"So, what do you have planned for today?" Ryou asked, handing Bakura his coffee and sitting down, smiling when Joey placed a cup of tea in front of him.

"Joey has to go back out to the clinic to see Jack and I have a meeting with Seto and Otogi." Tristan said. "I'm going to take Lexi with me so she can see Justin."

Lexi looked up from shoveling eggs into her mouth. "Lexi tee Jut-in?"

"He's going to be at work with Uncle Seto."

"TIPPIE!" Lexi shouted. "Go now?"

"Finish you eggs, honey." Joey said. "We've got to get Lexi's room done. WE need to paint it and get her a bed and stuff."

"I have a great idea!" Ryou said. "Why don't Bakura and I do it? We don't have anything planned today."

"You don't have to…" Tristan began.

"Please?" Ryou begged, turning the puppy eyes up full force.

Tristan looked at Joey, who shrugged with a grin.

"Okay." Tristan relented. "But we haven't had a chance to pick out furniture or anything."

Bakura held out his hand. "Give me your credit card."

"What?!"

"Give me your credit card. We'll get her furniture and you can use Joey's to take her clothes shopping." Bakura smirked at the brunet's skeptical look. "Come one, slim, it's not like I can't forge your signature."

Tristan shook his head and took his wallet from his pocket. "I don't think I want to know."

~*~*~*~*~

They were running late when Joey dropped Tristan and Lexi off at the main doors of Kaiba Corp., quickly kissing them.

First, Lexi had spent ten minutes squealing over the dress they had put her in and then Tristan couldn't find the diaper bag they had bought the night before.

Then, Joey had to spend a few minutes comforting Ryou when the sensitive hikari had burst into tears suddenly, it having come to him that Joey was home for good.

And to top it all off, they had to literally pry Lexi away from her favorite uncle.

"Wow!" Lexi stood, holding Tristan's hand, looking up at the huge building. "Diz we-are you woo-ark, Papa?"

"It is." Tristan smiled down at her. "Ready to go see Uncle Seto and Justin?"

"Yes!! Lexi tee Jut-in!"

Tristan led her into the building and toward the elevator. When the doors shut and the lift began to rise, Lexi pressed her nose against the glass.

"Wow! Papa! Look!" She pointed down at the city. "Dat tum neat!"

Tristan looked through the glass, watching as the buildings became smaller and smaller. He hadn't really noticed before how neat it actually was. Or maybe he had just always taken it for granted.

The elevator came to a halt and a voice asked Tristan to key in his security code for access to the upper floors.

Lexi jumped, looking around. "Who dat?!"

"It's okay, baby girl. It's just the computer." Tristan chuckled, punching his code into the security panel.

The elevator ascended another few floor and stopped, the doors sliding open silently.

"Jut-in ear, Papa?" Lexi asked, running out into the small lobby.

"This way." Tristan walked toward one of the three closed doors.

Seto was the only one on this floor and the other two offices were empty.

Opening the door, Tristan and Lexi were greeted by Gina, who was just hanging up the phone.

"Hello, beautiful." Tristan smiled at the woman.

"Hello yourself." Gina grinned back. "I take it this is Lexi."

"This is my girl." Tristan turned to his daughter. "Lexi, this is Uncle Seto's assistant, Gina."

"Hey-doe, Deena."

"Hello, Lexi. Justin has told me all about you."

"Jut-in?" Lexi tugged on Tristan's hand. "Papa, Lexi NEE tee Jut-in."

"Okay, baby girl. Come on." Tristan opened the door to the inner office and Lexi bolted inside.

"Jut-in!"

Justin scrambled up from where he was sitting on the floor, coloring. "Lexi!"

The two children threw their arms around each other and, to Tristan's surprise, Lexi began to cry.

"Jut-in…Lexi mish you toe mush."

"I missed you too, Lexi." Justin bent down and buried his face in her hair.

"This is why I wanted you to adopt her so badly." Seto was suddenly at Tristan's side.

Tristan watched as Justin loosened his grip just long enough to kneel in front of Lexi, putting them on a more even level. Lexi wrapped her arms tightly around Justin again and buried her face in his neck.

Seto walked over to the two children, reaching down to stroke Lexi's hair. She lifted her head, looking up at Seto with tear filled eyes.

"Hey-doe, Set."

"Hey, cute stuff. I'm glad you could come today."

Lexi smiled shakily, moving from Justin's arms and taking his hand. "Lexi nee tee Jut-in."

"I know you did, honey." Seto turned to his son, noticing the boy also had tears in his eyes. "Why don't you and Lexi color, Justin? Uncle Tristan and I have a meeting."

"Okay, Dad." Justin led Lexi over toward the couch where there was paper and crayons strewn across the floor.

They left the kids to play and cross the room to Seto's desk.

"How was your first night home?" Seto asked, sitting down.

Tristan dropped into a chair across from the other brunet with a sigh. "It was okay. Lexi settled in no problem, but Joey's finding it a bit rough."

"Give him time." Seto looked at Tristan seriously. "You look like you didn't get much sleep last night."

"I didn't. Joey…" Tristan was interrupted by Otogi's enterance.

"Sorry I'm late." The raven haired man stopped dead in his tracks when he caught sight of Lexi.

Tristan smirked at the look on his face. "No. She's not."

Lexi looked up at Otogi and her eyes widened at the sight of his long, black hair, falling in waves to his waist. She stood up, her whole body trembling, and reached out shaking hands to Otogi.

"Oooohhh…wow." She whispered, taking a step toward him.

Otogi took a step back. "What?"

Tristan and Seto cracked up, and even Justin managed a small, lop-sided smile.

Lexi took another step toward Otogi, her eyes never leaving his hair, and Otogi backed up again.

"Tristan," Otogi sounded nervous. "What's wrong with your kid?"

Tristan took pity on him and stood, going over and picking Lexi up. "It's your hair."

"My hair? What's wrong with my hair?"

"Papa." Lexi sounded awed. "Man haf tum wong hay-war."

"This is Otogi, Lexi."

"Togi," Lexi tore her eyes away from his hair and looked at him. "Tan Lexi tosh hay-war?"

Otogi looked at Tristan, confused.

"She wants to know if she can touch your hair." Tristan explained.

"Umm…I guess." Otogi suddenly found himself with Lexi in his arms.

Lexi reached out with both hands and sank her fingers into Otogi's hair. She ran her hands through the dark tresses until she couldn't reach any further and then pulled a handful toward her, burying her face in it.

"Toe toft." Lexi smiled up at him through the lengthy strands. "Is pity. T-mell nize too."

Otogi looked down into big hazel eyes looking up at him; eyes that reminded him of Tristan; and his heart melted. He had no idea what the child had said to him, but it didn't matter as he became a victim to her charm.

"Lexi dow peas, Togi." Lexi squirmed in his arms.

He set her down and, curiosity satisfied, she ran back to Justin, her attention completely focused on her friend.

"She's beautiful, Tristan. She looks just like you…" Otogi trailed off, blushing slightly. "I mean…"

"Yeah," Tristan grinned, oblivious to the man's discomfort. "I can already see this being a problem. I'm going to have to send out a memo or something."

Seto noticed the faint flush that stained Otogi's pale skin and he raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Well, um…" Otogi stared playing with his hair. "Let's get going. I have to get back to the store."

Seeing to it that the children were occupied, Tristan grabbed his briefcase and put it on Seto's desk. "Yeah, I want to bail out of here when Joey gets back."

Half an hour later, Seto saw that they weren't getting anywhere. Tristan attention kept drifting. He could feel his friend was upset about something…something that had to do with Joey…but he wasn't sure what.

That, and the fact that he had just seen Otogi cast Tristan a look of about the sixth time.

{Damn. This could be a problem. I think he still wants him. Tristan's doesn't even seem to notice. The two of them working so closely together is going to be uncomfortable for Otogi if this keeps up.}

"I'm getting lost here." Seto said. "I think I need a coffee. Tris, can you give me a hand?"

"What?" Tristan's eyes snapped back into focus. "Sorry."

Seto stood up. "I'm going to make some coffee. Let's get something for the kids."

Seto steeled himself against the pain and tried to touch Tristan's mind. {I want you to tell me what's wrong.}

Tristan blinked. He had heard Seto. He nodded and saw his friend wince with the pain. It had cost him to do that. The least he could do was tell him what was on his mind.

Otogi looked from Seto to Tristan. There was more being said than what he was hearing. He watched, frowning, as Tristan followed Seto to the small kitchenette located off the sitting area of the office.

His gaze went to the two children and he rose, going over to sit in a chair next to them. He was totally enthralled by Lexi. She looked so much like Tristan he was having a hard time believing that he wasn't her natural father.

He heard Tristan's voice and looked up to see the two brunets talking. Seto was leaning against the counter and Otogi watched as he reached out and pulled Tristan against him. Tristan wrapped his arms around the taller man's waist and laid his head against Seto's shoulder.

Emerald eyes widened as Seto tipped Tristan's face up, his fingertip caressing the angular features before he bent his head to kiss Tristan gently. He saw that Tristan accepted it more than willingly, speaking in soft tones when it ended.

He glanced at the children, noting that from where they were sitting on the floor they couldn't see their fathers.

When he looked up again, he was shocked to see them kissing again, deeply this time, their bodies pressed flush and Tristan with his hands tangled in Seto's hair.

Otogi looked away, his face flushed with embarrassment, wondering if the rumors he heard were true. Rumors that Seto and Tristan were having an affair.

He felt a flash of anger toward Tristan. How could he do that to Joey after everything he'd been through? Joey deserved better than that!

But on the other side of the coin, there was no doubt in his mid that Tristan loved Joey. Did Joey know what was going on? What about Yami and Yugi?

"Do you want coffee?"

Otogi looked up to see Tristan at his side. "Umm…actually…can we pick this up later?"

"Something wrong?" Seto asked, walking up to them and handing the two kids glasses of juice. "Both hands, Lexi."

"No." Otogi avoided their eyes. "I just kinda need to get back to the shop."

Seto wasn't convinced. "You sure everything's okay?"

"Yeah. I just have to get going." Otogi stood up.

"Togi doe now?" Lexi looked up.

"Ummm…" Otogi was having a very difficult time understanding the little girl.

"Otogi has to go back to work, Lexi." Tristan answered for him.

"Lexi tee Togi d-den?"

"Soon, baby girl."

"O-tay. Bye, Togi!"

"Bye, Lexi." Otogi couldn't resist reaching down to stroke her hair.

Justin bade Otogi farewell without even looking up from his coloring. Tristan was about to say something to the raven haired man when he cell phone rang. He said a quick goodbye and turned away to answer it while Seto walked Otogi to the door.

"Check with Gina. We should try to get together again as soon as possible." Seto opened the door.

"Sure." Otogi cut a glance at Tristan. "I'm booked solid tomorrow though."

"Whatever works for you." Seto said, seeing the look.

"I'll see you later then."

Seto frowned as Otogi left. The green eyed man seemed depressed…sad…and his posture was that of a man defeated.

{This is not good.}

~*~*~*~*~

"This is cute." Tristan held up the little lace-trimmed dress.

Joey rolled his eyes. "How's she supposed to climb trees in that?"

"Papa? Is pity. Lexi low it."

"See?" Tristan smirked at Joey.

Joey let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine, but we're getting her jeans and sneakers too."

They paid for Lexi's new wardrobe and made their way back through the mall. As they passed the music store, Joey stopped, his gaze falling on an acoustic guitar in the display window.

Tristan whistled. "Wow. That's gorgeous."

"Yeah. I always wanted a guitar like that."

Tristan looked at the price tag and shrugged. "You should get it."

"No." Joey shook his head, turning away. "It's okay. Seto said I could keep his as long as I want."

"It's not like we can't afford it, baby."

"I know." Joey looked at Lexi, who had her nose pressed against the glass. "I just don't feel right spending that kind of money right now."

"Well, maybe I'll get it for you for your birthday or something."

Joey smiled. "Yeah, okay."

Tristan took Lexi's hand as they left the mall. When they made it outside, Tristan caught sight of a man sitting on a motorcycle, watching them.

Or rather, he was watching Joey.

Tristan's eyes narrowed as the man's gaze raked Joey from head to foot. He felt his blood begin to boil as the recognized him as one of the men Keith had pointed out to him that night in the bar…one of the men Joey had been with.

"Take Daddy's hand, baby girl." Tristan said to Lexi, moving to Joey's other side, blocking the man's view and putting his arm around his lover's waist.

Joey smiled up at him, completely unaware of the man watching him, and Tristan leaned down, kissing him.

By the time they got to the car, Tristan's entire body was shaking with suppressed rage.

"Are you okay?" Joey asked as he put Lexi in her car seat.

"Fine." Tristan answered shortly, getting behind the wheel.

Joey didn't say a word the entire way home, feeling the angry tension radiating from the brunet.

Parking the car in the driveway, Tristan exited the vehicle, taking a deep breath and willing his temper under control. He helped Joey take the bags inside, spying a note on the piano.

It was from Ryou, saying Lexi's room was done and to watch out because the paint was still wet.

He turned around to see Joey looking at him, a puzzled expression on his face. "What?"

"You're upset about something."

Tristan shook his head. "It's okay, babe."

Joey turned away, rolling his eyes. [Gods, he's so moody sometimes.]

"You're room is done, Lexi." Tristan reached down and picked up his daughter, who was trying to climb up on the piano bench.

"TIPPIE!" Lexi bounced in Tristan's arms. "Tee now?"

Tristan carried her up the stairs, Joey following. As soon as they reached the top, Lexi began squirming and Tristan put her down, grinning as she ran into her room.

An ear piercing shriek let the two men know she like what she saw.

"Papa! Da-ee!" Lexi was standing in the middle of her room, bouncing. "Is tum pity!"

The room was definitely that of a little girl.

The walls had been painted a pale pink and the new single bed was made with deeper pink linens edged in white lace, as were the matching canopy and curtains. There were stuffed animals everywhere and a wooden rocking horse in one corner.

"Wow," Joey said. "Who would have thought Bakura would be caught dead with a can of pink paint in his hand."

Lexi ran over to the small bookcase, eyes wide. It was crammed full of children's books in different languages. She grabbed one and brought it over to her fathers.

"Papa?" Big eyes looked pleadingly up at Tristan. "Lexi tory?"

Tristan took the book from her and frowned. "You'll have to pick another one, baby girl. I can't read English."

Joey reached for the book. "But I can."

"Da-ee tell Lexi tory?"

"Sure, honey." Joey sat down on the bed, helping Lexi up. "You know, Tris, you should learn to read English. I mean, you can speak it."

Tristan shrugged. "I suppose. It was just never that important."

"Do you want me to teach you?"

"Sure. Why not? If you're going to teach Lexi." Tristan pulled another book from the bookcase. "Hey, this one's in Arabic."

"Maybe Bakura's planning on teaching her." Joey sat against the headboard and Lexi cuddled up next to him. "I know Yami wants Justin to learn."

"Da-ee," Lexi tugged on Joey's shirt. "'ead tory."

"Sorry." Joey turned his attention back to the little girl, opening the book.

Tristan smiled at the picture they made, cuddled up together, and quietly left the room.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey came downstairs, less than half an hour later, to find Tristan sitting on the couch, laptop in front of him.

"Where's Lexi?" Tristan asked as Joey sat down next to him.

"She fell asleep."

Tristan put the computer aside and pulled Joey to him. He kissed him gently and held him close, one hand moving to stroke his fingers through Joey's hair. Joey sighed and put his arms around the brunet, moving to lay his head against Tristan's chest.

They didn't say anything, just enjoying the feeling of each other, and soon enough, Joey's body relaxed against Tristan's. He was sound asleep.

/Looks like Lexi's not the only one's who's tired./ His grip tightened on the blond as he twitched in his sleep. /If Lexi hadn't been with us, I would have killed that son of a bitch for looking at you the way he did. I thought by getting rid of Keith I could put a stop to that. Gods, baby, I wish you'd tell me what went on. I don't know if I can handle wondering if every guy who looks at you twice has been with you that way. Just the thought of you being with ANYONE else makes me want to kill someone./

Tristan had no idea how long he sat there holding Joey, dark thoughts and jealousy induced images chasing each other in his mind.

"Papa? Da-ee?"

Joey jerked awake at the sound of Lexi's voice. He pulled himself from Tristan's arms and stood.

"I'll go." He said, heading for the stairs. "Why don't you grab her stuff and we'll get it put away?"

Joey took the stairs two at a time, hearing Lexi calling them again.

"Have a good nap, honey?" Joey asked, entering her room.

Lexi was sitting up on the bed, hair all tousled and her dress rumpled, rubbing her eyes.

"Lexi no feel dood, Da-ee." She coughed.

"What's wrong?" Joey sat down next to her, putting his hand on her forehead. "You're a little warm."

"'ead `urts." She coughed again.

"Let's get you changed." Joey stood her up on the bed and pulled her dress over her head.

His eyes widened. There were red blotches covering the small body. Looking up at her face, he noticed her lips looked swollen and she was wheezing slightly.

"Tristan!" Joey tried to keep the panic from his voice. "Tristan, come here!"

"What's wrong?" Tristan came into the room, dropping the bags he held when he saw Lexi.

"She's running a fever."

"Grab some clothes." Tristan laid Lexi down and began to change her diaper. "Let's get her over to Master Kiotou's."

AS they changed her, Joey noticed he had some pink paint on his fingers. "It's the paint fumes."

"What?" Tristan picked up the now fully clothed child, wrapping a blanket around her.

"The paint's still wet."

"Papa?" Lexi looked up at Tristan. "Lexi no feel dood."

"I know, baby girl." Tristan said sympathetically as he carried her from the room. "We're going to take you to someone who'll help you fell better, okay?"

"O-tay, Papa." Lexi leaned her head on Tristan's shoulder. "Lexi nee Tebby."

"Joey, grab her bear, would you?"

"Already got it." Joey ran down the stairs ahead of them.

He quickly grabbed Lexi's diaper bag and the key's to Tristan's car. "Grab your phone and call ahead. I'll drive."

~*~*~*~*~

"Bring her in the back." Master Kiotou said without permeable as the two men entered the apothecary shop.

"Now, what seems to be the problem?" The elder asked as Tristan set Lexi down on the table.

"I think she's having an allergic reaction, sensei." Joey said. "Ryou and Bakura painted her room and it was still wet when she went down for a nap. When she woke up, she was all broken out in hives and she says her head hurts."

"Does your head still hurt?" Master Kiotou asked the child, moving to stand in front of her.

Lexi's mouth dropped open when she looked up at him. "You tum winnie-kel."

The herbalist smiled as she reached up a curious hand to touch his deeply creased face. "That is because I am a very old man."

"Wow. Lexi tinners dot all winnie-kel inba tub wast nigh."

"I need to take off your shirt, Alexis." Master Kiotou said, seeming to have no problem understanding her.

"O-tay."

He removed the child's shirt and examined the hives decorating her skin.

"They're not as bad." Tristan noted, relief evident in his voice.

"Definitely an allergic reaction." Master Kiotou stated, standing Lexi up. "Turn around please, Alexis."

Lexi turned around and he examined her back. He frowned, running a finger down her spine, making her giggle. "There is a slight curvature to her spine."

"I noticed that when I was giving her a bath last night." Tristan said.

"Well," Master Kiotou turned the little girl around and sat her back down. "I do not believe it is anything to worry about. We will keep an eye on it. May I see your hand?"

Lexi placed her left hand in Master Kiotou's outstretched one.

He made a show of examining it before asking to see her other one. When she placed her deformed hand in his, he looked at it carefully, taking note of how the two fused fingers limited the mobility of her entire hand.

"I will get her something for the allergy." He handed her shirt to Joey. "You may dress her."

"He doesn't seem too worried." Joey said as the old man left the room.

"Maybe we should stay at Seto's tonight." Tristan handed Lexi her bear as Joey pulled her shirt back on.

"I was going to suggest that." Master Kiotou came back into the room. "For at least the next two nights."

"TIPPIE!" Lexi squealed. "Lexi tee Jut-in!"

Master Kiotou smiled at Lexi's enthusiasm. "Joseph, take your daughter to see my wife. But first, Alexis, you must drink this. It will make you feel better."

Lexi took the glass the herbalist handed her and drank from it.

"EEEWWWW!!! Is yucky!!" She grimaced.

"Drink your medicine, young lady." Master Kiotou said. "You are worse than your father."

Tristan rolled his eyes.

Lexi wrinkled her nose and quickly drank the rest of the glass's contents.

Master Kiotou smiled as he took the glass from her. "Very good. Now go with your daddy and see Mrs. Kiotou. I know she has some cookies in the kitchen."

"Ooohhhh! Lexi low tookies!"

Joey lifted Lexi down and took her hand. "Mrs. Kiotou makes the BEST cookies."

"Tristan, stay please." Master Kiotou said as the brunet began to follow his lover and their daughter.

"Sensei?" Tristan looked puzzled as the elder shut the door.

"You should not be hiding what you feel from Joseph." Master Kiotou stated. "It will not do either of you any good."

Tristan sighed and leaned back against the table, shaking his head.

"You do realize that your thoughts are groundless, do you not?"

"I do. It's just…I can't get it out of my head."

"Talk to him, Tristan. Your lack of communication is what got you here in the first place."

The old man's words were like a slap to the face. "You're right."

"I am. Promise me that you will talk to him."

"I promise."

"Good." Master Kiotou smiled. "Come. I will give you something to bring to Seto. I would imagine you have given him quite a headache."

Tristan laughed and followed him out into the shop.

A few minutes later, Joey came back, Lexi following behind him, a cookie in each hand.

"Papa! Miz-tis Key-toe tum nize! Tee quish Lexi doe."

"That's what you get for being so cute." Tristan grinned.

"Are you feeling better, Alexis?" Master Kiotou asked.

Lexi nodded, her mouth full off cookie.

"I would suggest she doesn't return home for a few days." The old man said to Joey.

"Will do. Thanks, sensei."

Lexi looked up at Master Kiotou with a bright smile. "Tank-too, ten-tay."

"You are very welcome." Master Kiotou placed a hand on the top of her head. "I hope you come back to see me soon."

"Yep! Lexi tum bat!"

"I look forward to it." The wise old eyes met Tristan's. "Remember the promise you made to me."

"I will."

"Very good." Master Kiotou nodded. "And please tell Yami to bring his son to me tomorrow. I will be able to answer the question he cannot."

~*~*~*~*~

"Tris?" Seto stopped his friend as he came up over the stairs. "Come here. You've got to see this."

"What's up?" Tristan asked, joining Seto outside Justin's bedroom door.

It was late. Joey, Yami and Yugi had already gone to bed, leaving Tristan and Seto to check on the children.

Seto opened the door, motioned for Tristan to look inside.

Tristan's gaze went to the mattress they had made up on the floor next to Justin's bed when Lexi had insisted on sleeping in his room.

It was empty.

Tristan looked toward Justin's bed and smiled. Lexi had obviously gotten up at some point and crawled into bed with Justin.

Both children were sound asleep, their arms around each other. Lexi had her face buried in Justin's neck and Justin was gently gripping a handful of Lexi's hair.

"Gods." Tristan whispered. "That makes me want to squeeze the hell out of them."

Seto grabbed him by the hand and yanked him back, shutting the door, before he did it. "Don't you dare."

Tristan chuckled and put his arms around Seto, hugging him. "Good night, pal."

"Oh, no you don't." Seto wrapped his arms around Tristan's waist, keeping him from moving away. "Have you talked to Joey yet? About what you told me this morning?"

"Not yet. I haven't had a chance." Tristan sighed. "Master Kiotou made me promise I would though.

"Tonight, Tristan."

"Seto…"

"I mean it." Seto looked at him seriously. "Don't let it go any longer. He knows you're upset."

Tristan's eyes filled with tears and he shook his head.

"Hey." Seto cupped Tristan's face in one hand. "Come here."

Tristan's arms tightened around the taller man's as their lips met. He let himself get lost in the kiss, momentarily giving up to the comfort Seto always provided.

Seto pulled away slowly, meeting sad, hazel eyes. "It'll be okay, Tris. Just tell him what you're feeling. I know he'll understand."

Tristan nodded silently, laying his head on Seto's shoulder, drawing strength from him.

Neither man noticed Justin backing into his room, a confused look on his face.

~*~*~*~*~

Yugi: *smacks Seto* Way to go! How are we going to explain THAT to him!!

Joey: *smacks Tris* A little discretion can go a long way.

YD: Oh, FUN FUN FUN!!

Otogi: Why me?

YD: Why not?

Bakura: I think Tristan needs medication.

Ryou: That's not nice, yami.

DD: Please review. And there's a lemon next chappie.

(A/N: Note to KC: We may do what you suggested as a little side thing, but it's not in the works right now and probably won't be for a while.)