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

Chapter 9

Accepting The Truth

"Oh God … I think I'm gonna die …" Jaden moaned as he finally stopped throwing up. "I don't know what even made me sick there, I was fine!"

"Probably just the nerves, Jay, with everyone staring at you like that" Jesse said, gently wiping his lover's mouth with a damp cloth. "They're still in the other room. Want me to tell them to leave you alone for today?"

Jaden shook his head and stood up.

"They already know. There's no point. Just get me a shirt so it's not so …"

Without a word, Jesse left the bathroom, found Jaden's usual shirt and jacket and came back. Jaden got dressed, grabbed his lover's hand and went back to his friends.

The gang stared at Jaden, his stomach in particular, making the brunette feel self conscious - another thing that he'd started feeling since he'd become pregnant, he was a naturally confident person, usually.

"Listen, guys, I don't want you to feel all sorry for me just cause it's making me sick. Point is, I'm happy. I'm gonna have a baby." Jaden wrapped one arm around his stomach and smiled. "Sorry I didn't say to you sooner but I guess I didn't want to. In case you got worried. Still friends, right?"

"We're always friends, Jaden" Alexis said, coming up to him and gently hugging him. She almost flinched when her stomach came into contact with his, but she refrained from shuddering at the unnatural feel of it. "When are you due?"

"Eh … five months from now?" Jaden guessed. "We don't really have a date."

"Are you really going to have a baby, Jaden?" Syrus asked.

"You bet, Sy!" the brunette grinned.

"Congratulations, mate" Jim said, giving a thumbs up to the expecting couple.

"Who knew Jaden could get stranger?" Aster smirked.

They spent the next half hour talking about how weird it was that a guy could get pregnant, nobody mentioning Yubel, simply because they didn't want to talk about her. It brought back bad memories.

Of course, Jaden was aware they hadn't just completely accepted it. They might pretend they had but he knew them well enough to see the shocked or worried glances they shot at him. He knew, as well, that it wasn't just out of concern for his health. He was carrying a child, something all of them considered biologically impossible. And yet he was, no question. He didn't want to bring Yubel into it, though.

None of them - except for Chazz, who hadn't said a word since hearing about the baby - could see her to talk with her, and he found it probable that none of them would have liked to anyway. They hadn't completely accepted the baby, but they pretended they did, and that was enough for now.

Once their friends left and Jesse was making some fried shrimp in the kitchen, Jaden zoned out to talk to Yubel.

They took the news okay, he thought.

Good, or I'd have to hurt them, Yubel thought back.

Yeah, like I'd let you.

I wouldn't try. You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, Jaden.

I know. Hey, Yubel, did you see the pictures?

What pictures?

The ones from the ultrasound.

Oh, those. Yes, I saw them.

Pretty good, huh?

Of course. Jaden, you are aware that you're sick?

Sure am. My back's killing me.

Hmm … I never thought I'd say this but Andersen's a pretty good guy.

I knew you'd come round to him!

He's taking good care of you, I'll give him that.

He loves me. He really does, Yubel.

I know. You give him your love like I give you mine.

I love you, too, Yubel. You know that.

I'm just teasing you. It's sort of fun.

You would think so, wouldn't you?

Anyway, Andersen's almost finished cooking for you.

All right! Fried shrimp!

Go and eat, Jaden.

You don't have to tell me twice. Catch you later, Yubel!

Goodbye, my dear Jaden.

Jaden cut off the mind connection and went to join his lover in the kitchen.

Yubel had never liked Jesse very much. She had put up with it and grumbled quietly in Jaden's mind, popping up now and then to partly scare his lover and also partly to make sure he wasn't mistreating her Jaden. She had tolerated their relationship, more than accepted it, ever since it started - which she had not approved of, but had cared too much about Jaden to cause trouble to them.

So it was an achievement to have Yubel at last accept it.

"You always come when there's food around" the bluenette laughed.

"Just gimme the shrimp and shut up" Jaden laughed.

Jesse handed him a large plate of shrimp and Jaden swallowed it in a matter of minutes, so quickly that Jesse was almost surprised Jaden didn't accidentally inhale the plate itself.

"You're a good cook, Jesse" the brunette said happily, folding his arms behind his head.

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, Jaden, you look happier than you have in a while."

"I just got great news."

"What would your great news be, then?" the bluenette said.

"I just talked to Yubel" Jaden said, bracing himself.

Jesse had forgiven Yubel and seemed to get on with her okay, but that didn't mean he was entirely comfortable around her, or at the mention of her. He had forgiven the spirit for possessing his body, but he hadn't forgotten.

"And what did she say?"

Jaden sighed, relieved.

"Yubel accepts you" Jaden said softly. "She says that you're actually a good guy. She said you take good care of me."

"I do my best."

Jaden got up and then sat down again, this time on Jesse's lap. He laced his arms around the bluenette's neck and rested his head on Jesse's shoulder.

"Jess … you're okay about Yubel, right?"

"If she doesn't bother me, I won't bother her."

That was civil enough, Jaden decided.

"Well, do you think it's a good thing that she gave me the ability to get pregnant, Jesse?"

"Jaden …"

"Good or bad?"

"Jaden, it's not that simple. It's great that you can have a baby. It's a unique ability, and it means that we can have our own baby. But I wish she could have made it so that you wouldn't be so ill with it."

"She didn't mean it."

"That's why I don't blame her" Jesse whispered. "Do you think it's a good thing?"

Jaden smiled into Jesse's shoulder.

"You really have to ask?"

Please R&R