Note: This is a request for Faith Princeton and any OCs in this story belong to her.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Prologue

"No matter what, I got your back. I'll take a bullet for you if it comes to that. I swear to God that in the bitter end, we're gonna be the last ones standing."

These words sang quietly, in time to the music playing on the car stereo, in the gentle voice of Ryleigh Justice Epperson.

While she harmonised with the voice of the singer, she ran her hands subconsciously over her swollen stomach - gently, as if stroking the life within to soothe it. It was true that the baby was moving around a lot today; maybe just a sign that the birth was near. It was due in two weeks, after all.

Her white jeans barely did up now, and she had to wear them lower on her hips than usual, but they still fit - just. She might have to admit to altering the waistband of the jeans so that they would still fit around her although she was carrying the baby quite low down. Her usual black T-shirt had also been altered - again, just letting out the seams so that it would fit around her stomach. That was all that needed to be changed. And although her feet were slightly swollen due to the added weight, her trademark brown boots were still comfortable enough.

Ryleigh looked out the window into the darkness of the night, sighing softly in disappointment that she couldn't see very much of the countryside in the dark.

Ryleigh had always loved nature. Before it had gotten so dark - it being midnight now - she had been enjoying the rolling hills, the flowing streams, the fluffy clouds … just enjoying the country scenery that she rarely got to see.

Sighing gently, Ryleigh felt a hand on her thigh, and she glanced over at the silhouette of her lover, still just about visible in the dark because of the lights inside the car.

"You okay?" he muttered.

"Yeah, I'm fine" she smiled, purposely lacing her voice with love. She could never show her boyfriend and lover just how much she loved him, because … well, because words didn't describe how much she loved Chazz Princeton.

Many people would say he was opinionated, arrogant, ignorant, obnoxious and … other unflattering names.

But Ryleigh knew better. She saw that side of Chazz, of course, but she saw another side of him that no-one else did. She saw the softer, loving side of him - perhaps she was the only one to have ever truly seen him that way in the full light.

Underneath his many layers of faults and strong opinions and cheekiness, there was a person who truly cared. He showed it more often than he thought, and sometimes people who were very friendly or observing - like Jaden Yuki - could see it. But none could see him quite like Ryleigh.

She had been with Chazz for well over three years now. Or was it four? She didn't really remember. Time with Chazz just flew by. It had to be closer to four now, though, since she was fully nine months along with her pregnancy.

At first she'd thought Chazz would reject the idea of being a father and dump her. He had the money to deal with child support, it would be no problem for him. But when she had finally - at four months along - gathered the courage to tell him about her pregnancy, Chazz had accepted it. He had supported her the whole time. He had been there for her.

And now the two were on their way to a reunion.

Both Chazz and Ryleigh had attended Duel Academy along with Jaden Yuki and Jesse Andersen and all their friends. They had been out of the school for about four years now, and they'd decided that it was about time they had a proper reunion. Internet chat and phone calls were fine, but it was time for a proper meeting. Jaden had decided that since it was also his and Jesse's anniversary, he would go all out and hire a huge hall and throw a huge party. He didn't have to pay for it all, since everyone sent sums of money to pitch in. There was the whole gang, so plenty of people and plenty of money.

Chazz had kept in touch with some of the old Duel Academy gang, but not all of them. He still saw Jaden and Jesse, Alexis, Aster, even Hasselberry. But he hadn't seen some of them - like Syrus or Blair - since their school years. Internet chat wasn't the same - it was time to show off about his success.

Not to mention, they could tell all their friends about their happy news - they were going to be parents in two weeks.

To sum it up, they were going to the reunion, but it was a long way away, and Chazz liked to drive. A plane or helicopter was fine, but he liked to drive and Ryleigh liked to see the country, so they had opted to drive the full way.

It just meant an overnight journey. Chazz had offered to drive the full way, so that Ryleigh could relax and go to sleep when she got tired. He could be a gentleman when he wanted. Not to mention that his lover - whom he truly cared for - was carrying his child. And his child was going to have the best, dammit!

"You'll be able to see the hills when it gets light" Chazz murmured. "Dawn's about five around here."

"I'll have fallen asleep by then" Ryleigh whispered, smiling in the darkness.

"I'll wake you up."

Although it wasn't visible, Ryleigh could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Deal" she muttered.

"You'd best go to sleep, then" Chazz said hastily. "You need your rest. And I need some peace and quiet to drive."

Ryleigh rolled her eyes at her lover and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek - difficult with her stomach as swollen as it was. Her violet eyes closed as she let her lips fall on his pale skin - a contrast to her darker skin - and whisper against his cheek.

"Night" she whispered.

Chazz grunted in response and fixed his eyes on the road until he noticed that Ryleigh was settled comfortably - as was possible in the car - against the car door.

He smiled at his girlfriend, reaching out to run his fingers through the soft locks of mahogany hair.

Their drive continued for ten minutes, nothing eventful happening. Chazz concentrated on the rough country road. Ryleigh ran her hands over her stomach in a vain attempt to soothe the child inside her - it was moving around like crazy and it was beginning to hurt a bit. She couldn't get to sleep with the baby moving around like this.

But she didn't voice her complaint, even though she hadn't ever been good with pain. She didn't want to break the peaceful silence that had come over them.

Luckily for her, something else broke it.

There was a sudden bang and a snap, and then the car suddenly halted. Chazz and Ryleigh were flung forward a little, but their seatbelts prevented any damage, though Chazz rubbed his neck a little.

"Okay?" he asked Ryleigh, concern in his voice.

"Mhm" she muttered, flicking on the light that was on the ceiling of the car. "What the hell was that?"

"I don't know."

"Well, get out and look."

"Don't push The Chazz around" Chazz muttered, but he opened the driver's door and stepped out, going to look in the bonnet.

Ryleigh, meanwhile, ran her hands over her stomach.

"It's okay, baby. We're okay" she whispered to her stomach, talking to the baby inside. "Calm down in there, it's all good."

But the kid just moved around even more - though not in the way she was used to feeling it move. This was different. This was somehow …

…Wet?

There was a tear, yet it wasn't really a tear. All that Ryleigh knew was that there was suddenly water running down her legs and onto the seat of the car. More trouble, right on time.

"What the hell?" she muttered.

And then a pain shot up her body.


Please R&R