Now I can't sing a love song

Like the way it's meant to be

Well, I guess I'm not that good anymore

But baby, that's just me

And I will love you, baby – always

And I'll be there forever and a day – always

I'll be there till the stars don't shine

Till the heavens burst and

The words don't rhyme

And I know when I die, you'll be on my mind

And I'll love you – always

Bon Jovi – Always

~ Ryou's POV ~ 10 Years in the Future ~

It was early in the morning and no one else in the house was awake yet. Reiko was cuddled up against my side, her breath coming in gentle puffs against my chest. As I gazed down upon her now, just a few weeks after our wedding anniversary, I couldn't help but recall our wedding day. Ten years ago, I married the woman of my dreams in the most beautiful wedding ceremony we could have asked for. I was so happy to be able to provide her with the type of wedding that she had always deserved.

She had glowed on her walk down the aisle, but not just because of her happiness over our marriage. Just a few days after my proposal, Reiko's flu symptoms had not worsened or dissipated. I had a sneaking suspicion that she wasn't just sick, but she kept brushing it off. My suspicions were more than confirmed when Rei burst out into tears when she found out that I had eaten the last strawberry yogurt for breakfast.

After she had calmed down, I was able to convince her to take a pregnancy test. When the test came back positive, I could not contain my happiness. Even Kazuhiro was excited about a new member being added to the family. Kaiba did not seem too pleased when she informed him; he had been concerned that Reiko would no longer be able to provide the same level of care for Kazuhiro as she had been previously.

Reiko's parents were another difficult pair to please. Her mother was happy that I was finally stepping up, but when she found out that Rei was pregnant, she started accusing me of proposing just because of her daughter's condition. Reiko took all of it in stride and handled herself in the most admirable way ever. Sometimes I still have trouble believing that the girl I left behind became such a strong, powerful woman in my absence.

Our friends and family came together for our wedding and were able to set their differences aside for at least a few hours. My father surprised me by hand-delivering my mother's wedding veil the day before the ceremony. Reiko was more than gracious about the surprise and wore the Bakura family veil as she walked down the aisle. To this day my heart is fit to burst from the pride.

A few weeks later, at a checkup, we had found out that Reiko was having twins. The doctor had explained (very slowly, twice, because I almost fainted the first time) that it was very common for a woman her age to have twins.

Beside me, Reiko stirred as an alarm clock went off downstairs. I knew that I should wake her up so that we could get a head start on the day. It was the day we were sending Kazuhiro off to his father's dueling academy. I knew she had been dreading this morning because she had stayed up late the night before helping Kazuhiro pack and shopping for all sorts of accessories that he might need in dorm.

I looked down at her as the mother of my children stirred again, her beautiful eyes fluttering open as she looked at me, a sleepy grin spreading across her face.

I had nearly finished shaving when Ryoko burst into the bathroom. Luckily (from years of experience), I had learned to shave with as much clothes on as possible. "Daddy, mom says breakfast is ready and she wants you to hurry before your food gets cold."

Ryoko was the older twin. She had Rei's gorgeous big eyes and hair the color of coffee with too much cream in it, thanks to me. I dried my face and pulled my t-shirt on, following the spunky eight year-old down the stairs.

As I took my seat at the head of the table, I heard the laughter of my younger daughter, Rika. Not a moment later I saw her charging down the stairs with Kazuhiro stomping behind her. The two loved to run up and down the stair and otherwise drive me and their mother crazy.

"That's enough, you two." Reiko said as she took her seat beside me.

Breakfast was typical, besides Rei tearing up when Kazuhiro got up to get seconds. As the kids cleared the table, I took my wife aside. "He's going to be okay, love. You know that."

"I just want him to be my baby forever." She whined into my shoulder.

"Eww," the kids chorused behind us. Although, as I turned to look at them I saw Kazuhiro's eyes soften. When I released Reiko, he came over and pulled her into a tight hug.

It was quite silly seeing the two together. He was so much taller than her already and he was only fifteen. Kazuhiro was built long and thin, just like his father. Quite unlike his father, however, he was compassionate and brave. The kid really the best older brother and role model for my daughters that I could have ever asked for.

"Are you sure you have everything?"

"Yes, mom."

"Yes, but are you sure?" Reiko asked him for the tenth time as we all climbed into the car.

"He already said he did, mom." Ryoko, ever the vocal child, chimed in.

I raised my eyebrows at Kazuhiro through the rearview mirror and he grinned at me, I was going to miss having him around. It was nice to have a guy on your side every once in a while, especially in a house full of women.

I turned the key and started the car. As I pulled out of the driveway, Reiko turned around to look at the kids all snug in the backseat. "I guess if you forgot something then we can just send it to you."

"Okay, mom."

"Or maybe I can ask you father to lend me the KC helicopter and I'll come see you!"

"Ryou!" Kazuhiro exclaimed. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

I waited until I came to a stoplight before turning to Reiko. "Honey, you're smothering him."

She shot me the most unloving look I had ever seen, but I could see the sadness in the corners of her mouth. So I added, "Besides, if you leave him alone, he'll be calling you in no time."

"Hey!"

"Will you call us, though?" Rika piped up, her eyes miniature replicas of mine. Although she tried to put up a strong front, Rika was the sensitive one in the family. She had been worrying over her half-brother's departure as much as (if not more than) her mother.

"Of course I'm gonna call, sissy. And you can call me, too. Anytime," he assured her.

When we arrived at the airport it was a lot more crowded than we had anticipated. There were families everywhere with their sons and daughters getting ready to be shipped off to Duel Academy. Of course, as soon as we got there, the girls decided that they had to pee. I dropped them off with Reiko at the entrance and Kaz and I went to find parking.

I decided to take advantage of the moment; I had been meaning to talk to him, anyway. "You know that we're really proud of you, right?"

"Yeah, you and mom have told me a few times."

"Well, it's true." I said as I turned the car off and popped the trunk. "You're a wonderful son and you're growing up to be a great man. A lot better than I was at your age."

He looked up at me then, I think he sensed the importance of the conversation. It was something he had inherited from his mother. I liked to find her in him. It had made it a lot easier to accept him all those years ago. Sometimes in the early years, although I can't say I'm proud of it, I had felt threatened by how much she loved him and how much he looked and acted like his father. Luckily I've learned a thing or two about how people can be very different than the people they are descended from.

I slung the last bag over my shoulder and we started the long walk out of the parking structure. "I don't have a son of my own, but I have always considered you a son. It has been my honor to have even the slightest hand in raising you."

"Hey now, are you gonna cry?" He joked, although I could see the affection in his eyes at my words.

"No, maybe, not just yet," I laughed. "I think that you know how we feel about you, but I want you to know that I truly have been blessed to have you in my life, Kazuhiro. I never wanted to replace your father in your life and I think that, despite the challenges, you got a pretty good childhood out of it. You're a wonderful older brother and I'm so happy the girls have you in their life to look after them."

He turned to me, then, as we were stopped at the crosswalk. "Thanks, Ryou. You know that I've always loved you. I think that everything happens for a reason and I'm happy that my mom has you. She was never happier than when you came back into her life."

I gripped his shoulder in appreciation as we crossed toward the airport building, eyes peeled for the correct terminal.

"Well," I said as we neared the gate, "there is one more thing."

"What's that?"

"I've thought about this long and hard, and I want you to have this." I handed him the foil-wrapped card that I had tucked in my shirt pocket. His eyebrows furrowed and his brown hair fell into his eyes as he carefully unwrapped my gift.

"Change of Heart?" He whispered the question and held the card with reverence.

We had dueled many times over the past few years and I had used the card against him many times. He had always admired it from a young age and I had always meant to give it to him. "Yes, it's yours now. Well, if you'll have it, that is."

"I can't believe it, Ryou, wow!" He dropped his bag and threw his arms around me, in a very out of character display of affection. "I can't believe you're giving this to me, are you sure?"

We had begun walking again because Ryoko was flagging us down with whacky arm gestures. "Of course I'm sure, mate. You're going off to Duel Academy and, call me selfish; I don't want you to forget about little old me." He laughed as I winked at him. I was really going to miss the kid.

"What's that all about?" Rei asked as her pretty eyes narrowed in teasing suspicion.

"Just guy talk, mom, right, Ryou?"

"Right," I chuckled as she pinched my side.

"Your pilot is waiting for you, you know." Reiko said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"First you cry about me leaving and now you can't wait to say bye?" Kazuhiro joked as he embraced his mother. "Besides, dad's paying him quite a bit. He can afford to wait for me."

"I still can't believe he's not here for this." Reiko grumbled. I pulled her under my arm and kissed her forehead as we watched Kazuhiro say goodbye to his sisters. It took all of two seconds for Rika to start crying, and even though Ryoko had sworn up and down she wasn't going to cry, she joined in a moment later.

"Dad is going to be on the island tomorrow, he said that we could have lunch. Besides, I said goodbye to Katsumi and Kamiko yesterday." Kazuhiro explained. He had just started to hoist his bag up onto his shoulder again when an airport employee came rushing up.

"Mister Kazuhiro, no one informed us that you were here!" He paused a moment to wave over a few more attendants. "Here, let us take care of your bags for you. Is there anything else you might need?

I had never seen him look more sheepish in his life as he muttered a quick, "no, thank you." The families that were sharing tearful goodbyes with their teens paused to look over at our little group. I swear more than a few cameras snapped and I noted quite a few girls swooning. Ah, to be young again.

"I guess this is it." He said as his eyes got a little watery.

"Alright guys, bring it in for a group hug." Reiko said. She opened her arms wide, encircling her son with the grip of a boa constrictor.

It was late and Reiko had just come down from tucking the girls into bed when she got a message from Kazuhiro. "What's he say?" I asked from my seated position on the couch.

"He said that he's all settled into Obelisk Blue and that he's really excited for orientation tomorrow."

"I still can't get over that Obelisk Blue, thing." I snorted as she came around to sit with me on the couch.

"What?" She laughed the word and I swear the room got brighter.

I leaned down to kiss her forehead before answering. "Oh, just that Seto Kaiba's ego never ceases to amaze me. Even after all these years."

She rolled her eyes at me and took the remote out of my hand, changing the channel to some stupid reality TV show. These were the moments I lived for. There was nothing in the world like having my wife tucked safely into my side and my daughters upstairs asleep. Kazuhiro was missing, but I knew that he was about to embark on an incredible journey and I only hoped that his would be a lot less harrowing than mine.

I often wondered what it would have been like if Reiko had given me a son instead of the two pretty, smart girls that we had. It scared me. I don't know how I would have been able to explain to my son how to properly treat a woman when I had treated his mother so poorly.

The Bakura family would end with me. There would be no son to carry on the name. It was sad to think about, sometimes. When I catch myself thinking about nonsense like that, I remind myself that things happen for a reason. There has been enough pain in my family and my bloodline. Reiko has brought brightness into my life that I had once questioned if I deserved. Now I know well enough to keep my mouth shut and accept the wonder that is my wife. The years may have aged us, but every time I look at her, I feel seventeen again.

After all the crap that went wrong, it's so nice to know that I finally got it right.

End.

First and foremost, I want to thank CraftyLion for sticking with me through the ins and outs of this story. She has been my rock – and is now, currently, my editor. :) I encourage you all (especially if you're grammar Nazis/sticklers for punctuation) to go back and reread the series because it's all been spruced up!

Thank you. Thank you to all of my reviewers, all of my followers, all of my favoriters, and thank you to all of my silent readers – I know you exist! Without you, this story would be nothing. Literally. I can't believe that I've made it this far and I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed the journey as much as I have.

I hope that you all enjoyed the epilogue. I thought long and hard about what to and what not to include. It needed to be in Ryou's point of view because, well, this story is really all about him. I hope that I was able to properly convey the wisdom he has gained through the years.

For those who'd like to know:

Ryoko ("bright or refreshing child")

Rika ("valued fragrance")

Kamiko ("superior child") – she is the daughter of Seto and Katsumi and Kazuhiro's other sister (in case that wasn't clear – which, I kinda feel it wasn't). Let's say she's almost ten.

Thank you all, again. I love you with all my little soul. Really.

Xx,

Red