"Hey George!" came a bright greeting from Atlanta as she was let into her former home by the resident butler. Arianna was here this weekend and Atlanta intended on visiting her to see how she was. Bryony was in the carry chair clutched to her arm, yawning tiredly in her sleep after having her feed in the car before her mother had come in. It was a good time for the younger Gregory to see her niece while visiting her brothers and father. But there was also another, very important reason Arianna was in town and it was already being splashed all over the papers in anticipation.

"Good day Miss Atlanta." George greeted as he helped her through the door, which she nearly got stuck in as she went. Deftly, he took her baby bag from her to allow her more room, a neutral expression on his face despite the bright humour in his eyes.

"Thanks, Kaiba says I carry around too much but being a mother has introduced a worrying side to me I never had!" Atlanta laughed as George nodded in agreement.

"It would appear so…"

He was interrupted by the shrill sound of the house phone sounding near them in the large hallway. As of habit more than nosiness, due to the fact that she'd grown up here, Atlanta sauntered over to the phone and picked it up, her voice its useless lazy tone, "Hello, Gregory residence. This is Atlanta speaking, how may I help you?"

There was a little gasp at the other end before the caller replied in a hesitant voice, "Uh, hello. C-can I…I mean would it be possible…to speak uh, to Bryce please?!

Atlanta raised one eyebrow, vaguely recognising that boyish voice but not really being able to put a name to it. "Yeah sure," she replied, brightening her voice a little, to try and sound more welcoming to the younger man on the other end. "May I ask who's speaking?"

There was another hesitation before the stuttered reply came, " Uh, S-Syrus Truesdale, Miss Gregory."

Atlanta blinked, trying to place a face on the voice but gave up after a minute or so. "I'll get him right now." She lowered the telephone before buzzing the intercom that led to Bryce's room.

"Uh, hello?" came the unmistakably more masculine voice that belonged to her still growing brother. "What's up George?"

Atlanta giggled at the mistake, having an easy sense of humour, "It's me, pick up the extension in your room, Syrus Truesdale is looking for you on Line 4."

"Uh ok." And her younger brother buzzed off without even thanking his older sister for helping him. A typical brat of a teenager, Atlanta thought, rolling her eyes as she picked up Bryony and sauntered into the lounge at the very back of the house that her father preferred.

Two sets of voices could be heard contained within a pleasant conversation which grew louder as she proceeded down the hall. When she entered into the room, she saw that a woman, who would have looked totally unfamiliar had she not resembled Arianna so much, was sitting sharing a cup of tea with her father. Both looked up surprised when they noticed the small frame of Atlanta standing there, her eyebrows raised in question. Nicholas got a little flustered, pink appearing under his eyes as he quickly stood up to help his daughter and granddaughter into the room.

"Atlanta! I didn't think you'd be around so soon, I ah…"

Atlanta waved off his excuse with a casual grace, "Ah whatever Dad. I'm not gunna freak out over you having lunch with a beautiful lady…on your own…without anyone else…alone…just the two of you…all cozy…."

"That's enough Atlanta, Henrietta was dropping Arianna off for the Wedding and well I invited her to stay for lunch." There was an uneasiness in his voice as he eyed his oldest daughter, waiting nervously to gauge her reaction. Atlanta's mother had been dead for thirteen years and if she was honest, he'd put up with a lot way back then so it was understandable that he'd had the affair that led to the sister Atlanta had never known about.

Atlanta laughed, trying to bring her father at ease; everyone was so uptight today. It wasn't like she was going to begrudge her father a cup of tea with an equally single woman, widowed or not. He deserved happiness, after all, she'd moved on from Shaun hadn't she and found happiness and contentment elsewhere. "Hi, so you must be Arianna's mum. She's told me all about you. Sorry I haven't had a chance to meet you yet I've been quite busy."

Henrietta blinked lovely blue eyes, glancing at Nicholas before getting a nod to reply. "Yes, Arianna told me about that. I'm sorry to hear about that affair. Are you safe now?" She spoke softly but Atlanta could tell that she was holding back, perhaps scared that Nicholas's child would take her presence in their home as an insult.

Atlanta shrugged, not wanting to think about Shaun's trial and sentence; she had vowed to never look back anymore, her life was with Kaiba now and Bryony. "As safe as can be. It's nice to see you and my dad talking after all these years, you were obviously very close."

"Uh…well thank you." The beautiful lady replied, shocked that Atlanta had been so easygoing about the whole situation. "Arianna speaks very highly of you all the time."

Atlantea beamed brightly; this woman had obviously been informed over Atlanta's initial reaction to Arianna's presence but then, Atlanta hadn't been at all well and then the hormones kicked in so she wasn't in the best frame of mind. No wonder the woman was scared. "She's great, I've never had a sister…well I never knew I had one. Where is she now?"

Nicholas, who had been watching the whole exchange with a thoughtful yet hopeful frown on his face, snapped out of his trance before replying, "Oh, she's getting settled into her room. I think she'll stop in and see Bryce too."

Atlanta nodded before glancing down at Bryony a sheepish expression on her face, "I'm sorry that she's asleep. She's just been fed and you know what way she goes once she's been fed."

Nicholas glanced down lovingly at his first grandchild, bending down to run a soft finger down her baby soft cheek. "Oh never worry. She never naps for long anyway. You should stay until she wakes up Henrietta, she's quite the character I tell you."

The woman blushed, "Oh well I couldn't possibly intrude…"

"Nonsense. Dad doesn't have any friends, you should stay for supper!" Atlanta invited warmly, grossly exaggerating her father's social solitude and neglecting to mention that she didn't even live here anymore so technically had no right to invite anyone to the house for any occasion. "Besides, Bryony likes meeting new people."

"Well your father already offered but I didn't think it appropriate considering the circumstances…"

"Nonsense!" Atlanta declared again, turning to leave the lounge, "You're Arianna's mother, of course you are always welcome here. I'll just leave you two to get back to your conversation…"

"Which usually translates as 'Dad, I need to game, watch the little one.'" Nicholas laughed as Atlante refused to deny the charges before sauntering out of the room and towards the stairs that led to the second floor. She smiled on her way, wondering about her father and if he had been feeling lonely all these years he'd been a widower. She certainly wouldn't begrudge him any happiness what so ever.

--

Arianna had just put away the last of her clothes when the knock came at her door. "Come in!" she called out, waiting for Bryce's face to appear but was surprised to find the tiny frame belonging to her older sister skip merrily into the room, a bright smile on her face; clearly she was in her usual mood of carefree life, just breezing by. "Hey!" She looked at her empty arms before folding her arms, an accusing eyebrow raising a fraction, "A where is my Niece?"

Atlanta waved her off, her eyes closed momentarily before she shrugged in a lazy fashion, "Oh you know her! Any time of the day is a great time for a nap! Little lazy buggar, too laid back for her own good!"

Arianna refrained from laughing at the irony of Atlanta calling anybody laid back; if she was anymore easy going herself, she'd be permanently horizontal. "Is that the pot, kettle and black scenario oh dear sister?" Arianna asked, amusement evident in her voice as she raised her eyebrows in Atlanta's general direction.

Atlanta shrugged lazily before plunking herself comfortably onto Arianna's large double bed, hands clasped behind her head in a relaxed pose. For a while the sisters sat in a comfortable silence before Arianna decided to ask socially, " So, what are your plans for this weekend? Anything nice with Kaiba?"

Opening her eyes, Atlanta tilted her head slightly to the side as if in deep thought, "Meh, not really, he's busy launching so updated program or other. He's been pretty hyped up about it for months, especially since its ahead of schedule too."

Arianna knew her sister was referring to the new Virtual Software she'd helped him develop while floating around his laboratory as she usually did. But Arianna hadn't noticed any significant improvement in Kaiba's attitude or mood the last time she'd seen him at Bryce's sixteenth birthday over a week ago. She relayed as much to Atlanta adding, "Perhaps only when he licked his lips in anticipation when they were about to serve the dinner so he must have been hungry."

Atlanta raised a single eyebrow at this comment, smirking a little in reply, "Come on, it's Kaiba, outside of the bedroom, that's about as much emotion as he dares to show."

Arianna's eyes shot wide in shock at these words, not really wanting to picture her sister in bed with her husband; "Thanks for the mental image," she muttered to Atlanta's soft chuckle followed by a sigh.

"Oh I am bored!" Atlanta sat up then, "I haven't had a night out in ages, fancy it?"

Arianna shifted uneasily at the question; she wasn't really the partying kind, especially since she'd left the Academy months ago. Bryce's birthday had been a challenge for her, but of course, that was an endless stream of teenagers bouncing around in a fashion that had never appealed to her before. "I'm not…"

"Aw come on, I'll take you to a really nice little place."

"What about Alyssa?" Arianna referred to Altanta's usual partying partner but immediately regretted her words as a sad light came into those green eyes. "Oh I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…" She belated remembered that Alyssa wasn't feeling herself lately due to a lot of pressure from the press and personal stuff.

Atlanta shook her head, "Yeah don't worry about it. She's just been having it rough; we all have but especially her. But I really want a good Saturday night on the town. Plus we haven't really went out properly yet what with me having Bryony and such." Her sister was immediately bright again, her own strains forgotten as her usual lazy smile returned. "I'd ask Arena but you know her; plus Abigail's still stuck to Raphael's side, they're going to the Theatre tonight. Plus, I'll introduce you to a few people so you won't feel out of place at the wedding next week."

Saving Arianna from awkwardly declining Atlanta's offer, Bryce came sauntering into the room, his tall frame stopping to lean against the wood of Arianna's wardrobe. "Not more wedding talk surely. I remember a time when you were fun Atlanta!" Bryce had grown a lot over the last year and gotten a lot of his confidence back; apparently he was becoming his former outgoing self again. Arianna hadn't known him then so she couldn't judge but she had seen the change in the way he stood and acted now.

Arianna laughed as Atlanta had the decency to look offended, mouth held aghast for a matter of seconds before she reached for a pillow and fired it at him, "Hey, I still am fun! I was just trying to talk your sister here into coming out with me so I could introduce her to people she'll be meeting at the wedding. That way, we can party tonight and she won't feel out of place at the wedding either."

"Really Atlanta, I'll be fine." Arianna tried to change her mind, "Abigail let me invite a few friends that even Bryce knows so it won't be as if I'll be on my own all night."

Bryce raised his eyebrows questioningly, "Oh? Alexis and Atticus still coming then?"

Arianna nodded, "I checked with them last night and they fly in on Tuesday."

"You do realise Aimee's going to have a fit when she finds out don't you?"

Atlanta perked up at this, eyebrows raising interestedly, "Oh? Why so? Is there so juicy gossip I don't know about?"

Bryce shook his head rolling his eyes expressively, "Not really, just Aims being Aims; that and she hates the Rhodes siblings; especially Atticus."

Arianna frowned defensively, "She does not hate the Rhodes siblings - well maybe she and Atticus don't get along much but she doesn't hate them!" she amended when she saw the disbelieving look in Bryce's eyes.

"Whatever, if you say so." Bryce replied with a bored sigh.

"So what was your phone call about?" Atlanta turned her attention to Bryce leaving Arianna relieved she hadn't continued to pester her about going into town that night. "That guy sounded sort of wimpy."

Bryce laughed a little before replying, "Oh that's Syrus and he's like that cuz he has a crush on you."

Arianna raised her eyebrows at this, feeling warmth at the mention of another of her old friends from her days in the Academy, "Syrus? Oh how is he?"

"He's coming to the wedding in case you didn't know," Bryce looked away as if trying to conceal something, "He wanted to know if his brother could come along too since he was also in town."

Arianna felt her heart drop to the bottom of her feet at the referral to Syrus's brother. "Zane?" she almost squeaked, before breathing slowly to keep her heartbeat down. She had never been the best of friends with the Pro Duellist and had often clashed with him about everything, disliking the arrogance of one of the best duellists in her generation. Their clashes were almost as notorious as Aimee's clashes with Atticus. "Oh…right…"

An amused expression came over Bryce's face as he watched the flicker of confusion write itself across his blond sister's face. "You don't have to go near him you know. It would be rude if he was left to himself the whole day while everyone else was partying at a wedding."

Arianna frowned before shaking her head, ignoring the tweak of discomfort she was feeling in the pit of her stomach. "I'm ok, I'm not bothered in the least. Whatever."

Atlanta raised her eyebrows but had obviously decided to say nothing on the matter, turning to her brother with a small smile on her face. "Arianna thinks she's gotten out of partying with me tonight but she couldn't be more wrong."

Arianna blinked, for a moment wondering what exactly Atlanta had been talking about but then remembered about the fact she had been nagging her into going out that night with her; something that didn't interest the taller blond. "Aw come on, I really don't want to go."

Atlanta waved her off, "Tough, you're going, I think it would be good for you and us, you know more sisterly bonding." The sound of a stifled yelp signalled the awakening of Bryony downstairs, causing Atlanta to stand to her feet, clapping a little as she went, "Oh I love having a sister, this is so cool!" She walked out the door, leaving Arianna to sit down tiredly in her wake, "Oh hi Aimee! Arianna's in her room, she's just arrived!"

Blinking several times in order to compose herself, Arianna looked up to see her best friend saunter into the room, rolling her green eyes as she did so. "That child always screams anytime I go near her…" she mumbled before sitting her self in the chair opposite Arianna with Bryce towering over her. "Settled in ok?"

Arianna nodded, trying not to think of the night ahead. "Uh, yeah. Atlanta just came to welcome me before going to probably feed Bryony."

Aimee narrowed her eyes on Arianna's face before glancing up at Bryce, her yes curious, "What's happened?"

Bryce shrugged, "She's just shocked that Zane Truesdale's going to the wedding now and she has a little crush on him."

Arianna's head snapped back up, her eyes angry and focused on her brother's face, a small, angry flush seen under her eyes, "I do not have any sort of crush on Zane Truesdale!"

Aimee turned back to her, clearly wanting to question her little outburst but refraining from doing so, "Then what's wrong?"

Arianna shrugged, "Atlanta is insisting I go out with her tonight in order for us to bond more."

Aimee raised her eyebrows, "And the problem is?"

Arianna narrowed her eyes, giving her a disbelieving glare, "As in out, out…to clubs and dance clubs!"

"Oh," Aimee's mouth decided rounded in surprise, "Right. But you don't want to then?" Typical Aimee, staying completely calm throughout it all and patiently waiting for Arianna to explain her feelings on the matter.

Arianna shook her head, "You know it's not my scene. I haven't been out really since my 18th Birthday and I really wouldn't feel comfortable in toffs' company."

Bryce guffawed at this, his eyes going wide and his eyebrows raising on his forehead, "Toffs?"

"Well you know, Rich Toffs…with all their social graces and…" she started to feel awkward now, realising just who she was talking to; after all, her knew found family were rich and famous all over the world. "Well…I never grew up in your world…I'm not used to…to…all your ways!"

Aimee watched her silently while Bryce laughed out loud, "You've obviously never been out with Atlanta. She makes fun of those people when they show up."

"What do you mean?"

Aimee blinked and interpreted Bryce's poor choice of words, "We are not snobs, Ari, especially Atlanta. Those, 'Toffs' that you refer to are snobs who look down on others because of their social standing. She's already yelled at a lady for referring to you as 'New Money and the by product of something dirty and slanderous' when the story broke."

Arianna blinked several times in surprise; she hadn't heard about that but Aimee never lied and she trusted her with her life, even before she'd found out they were related, they'd always been there for one another. "But I just won't feel comfortable…"

"Does a child feel comfortable the first time he gets onto a bike?" Bryce asked, his eyebrows raised, those green eyes dancing with merriment and enquiry. "Come to think of it, I was so…uncomfortable at Duel Academy last year but you guys helped me through it…even if you did let me win Arianna." A knowing light came into those green orbs before he pushed himself off the wardrobe, "Besides, if Aimee's willing to put up with Atticus Rhodes for an evening, I'm sure you can handle those sticks that call themselves women of high society." Without a backward glance, he turned and left the room that was now filled with tension.

"Atticus…Rhodes…" Aimee muttered, her voice sounding a little embittered with the name. "What did he mean by that?"

Shifting uncomfortably, Arianna looked down at her hands, "Well you see, I was allowed to invite them, since they were in town, Abigail gave me permission." She didn't want to admit that she'd done so to increase the number of people she knew at the party so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable with all those toffs of High Society.

For a while, Aimee stared at her with green eyes, a deeper pool than Bryce and Atlanta's, before merely nodding her acceptance of the news. "Very well, the more the merrier I guess. Not like I have to be near him at all."

Arianna was sure there would have been a little bit more of a reaction from Aimee, since at the Academy she would usually make disparaging remarks about him when they were both alone or with them. This quiet acknowledgement seemed abnormal, even for the iciness and indifference that often followed the youngest of the cousins about.

"Are you sure you're alright with it?" Arianna asked her, a little uncertainly, "You don't want to scowl or at least sigh with displeasure?"

Aimee cocked her head to the side as if pondering her words for a matter of seconds; despite this, her face still remained impassive and calm. "The deeds been done and I shouldn't care so much about Mr Rhodes, he's not really worth any form of tantrums."

Ouch! Arianna thought with a cringing sense of foreboding. Atticus Rhodes had been relegated to below even the level of energy it would take for Aimee to continue to hate him; that was harsh. But still, Arianna felt as if there was something she was missing, although she'd have to leave it since Aimee didn't seem to want to talk about it at the moment.

--

The usual crowd of photographers and reporters crowded around the exclusive theatre as the large limo drew level with the entrance. Lights were flashing randomly through the windows in anticipation for whoever had arrived this time; perhaps they were expecting someone as handsome and rich and powerful and brooding as Kaiba. Or some popular entertainer that had decided to brave the summer night rain in order to catch the highly exclusive show.

"The usual crowd then," Abigail murmured staring out the window after giving Arena a knowing glance. Both of them had been used to this sort of thing all their lives so they weren't about to be put off by a few over active reporters just trying to catch a bit of meaningless gossip about any celebrity they can get.

"Yeah, Johnson's here, he may be a little more…boisterous than usual." Arena murmured, blue eyes watching the greasy reporter with his usually blond locks waxed back until they clung to his skull. Only the previous morning, she'd had to personally escort the man off her home land, of course, along with security. He'd been following them a lot for more scoop on the scandal involving Alyssa that had been a big seller.

Blue eyes met hers and Abigail gave her a playful wink, "We can handle him sweetie!"

Arena tensed as she felt a hand cover her own, causing little sparks of recognition shoot up her arm and spread unwelcome warmth all over her body. "Relax sweetheart, it's just some reporters, you don't need to worry."

Biting back a scathing remark, Arena pulled her hand from his deliberately, a little slower than she'd liked to but she didn't want him to know how his touch was affecting her in such an illogical fashion. "I'm not worried Valon, I am merely making an observation. I've dealt with this sort of thing since I could walk, a meagre trip to the theatre isn't about to damage me mentally nor emotionally."

She swept her long hair over her shoulder to prepare to leave as the door was opened for her. This atmosphere was completely familiar to her as she glided along slowly towards the door, giving the crowd a little of what they wanted so they wouldn't bother her too much when she was leaving. The usual questions were being fired her way in the incandescent chatter.

"Where did you get your dress Arena?"

"Have you had your hair styled?"

"Do you want to let us know where next week's wedding's gunna be?"

"Is Alyssa ever gunna come out of hiding?"

"When are you planning to settle down?"

"What's going on between you and Valon the Duellist?"

Arena faltered at this, turning to look over her shoulder to find Valon right next to her, alarmingly close, as if he belonged at her side. She hadn't noticed his presence before that question had thrown her. The lights continued to flash around them but he only had eyes for her as they dance amusedly at her confusion. In response to the beauty of those crystal depths, she felt her mouth dry a little, causing her to lick her tongue across her lips with nerves, a motion that he noticed, blue orbs falling to the action.

"Can you give us a kiss for the camera?"

That nosey voice interrupted their brief trance, with Arena shaking her head, feeling a little out of breath as she headed towards the doors a little faster than normal, Valon right at her heels as she did so. She felt anger with herself for that brief moment of weakness when all she could do was stare into those depths that sparkled and danced so much mischief and daring that she had felt excited and compelled by it.

"Don't go all hot on me Ice Queen, save it for later…"

Keeping her facial expression unchanged, arena continued forward, climbing up a set of stairs and reached the door that led into the main auditorium. She was the picture of calmness and control but her insides felt hot and uncomfortable; the way he'd said the words had caused stirrings within her she wasn't prepared to recognise or accept and she certainly didn't want Valon knowing that he disturbed her in such a way.

Deciding to look and see where Abigail was, Arena turned her tall frame to look back down the stairs, surprised to find that Valon wasn't immediately behind her as she'd been fearing. Instead, he was stood at the bottom of the flight she stood on, looking up at her with wide blue eyes, laced with wonder and awe. A dumb feeling struck her as she stared back, unable to rip her eyes from him despite her original intention of looking for Abigail.

An unmistakeable chemistry floated between them and for the first time, Arena knew she couldn't ignore the breathlessness that she felt or the vibrant beat of her heart pulsing through her veins wildly and uncontrolled. The feeling amazed and shocked her but it also frightened her; she'd never depended on anyone but herself, had never felt a need to kiss anyone or to touch them. But right now, she felt like a completely different person, someone she didn't recognise; ever since that kiss she had struggled to forget it, battled to remember what an arse Valon really could be.

But he intrigued her, tested the limits of her control and made her feel things she really didn't want to feel; anger, heat, lust…desire. Her breath caught in her throat at that thought; she desired him. Had she always? Even now, standing in a lightened theatre, in full public view, her hands were tingling, encouraging her to go down to him, to kiss him and run her palms all over the hard planes of his body and through that silky brown hair. And she could tell by the light in his azure eyes that right now, he wanted to do the same.

"Wait up Arena, there's no need to rush!"

The sound of Abigail's voice seemed to break into their semi-intimate moment at a distance; that was the second time in almost as many minutes that she'd been captured by his gaze, having to be saved by somebody else. Somehow, she'd lost the control of her emotions and she knew she'd have to battle them for the remainder of the evening if she was to leave this theatre with her pride in tact.

Free from her gaze prison, Arena shook her head before looking to find Abigail and Rafael a little bit to the side of Valon, looking at him a little curiously. "I just wanted to save us a seat…" What a lame excuse and attempt to verbally deny what had just happened. Her usual sense were coming back to her and were fiercely rejecting everything she'd just felt; he hadn't even touched her for crying out loud. A throb at her temple told her it was going to be a long night as she watched the other three ascend the stairs to join her, those azure eyes hooded and shielded from proper scrutiny.

Slowly, she turned on her heal, staring at the wide door, unable to watch them come up any longer. She felt his presence come behind her and stiffened in response before walking on ahead and into their usual box seats to await the performance; the two of them were in the front while Rafael and Abigail snuggled into the back seat with one another.

Fidgeting with her binoculars in order to distract herself from the man beside her, Arena frowned over the audience still piling in below. People laughed, some sat silently with either relaxed or bored expressions on their faces. Women gossiped and kids screamed excitedly over the buzzing. Everyone was so concerned with themselves and their own lives, nobody even looked around to see the way others were conducting their night out. It as something Arena had often found fascinating when she'd been growing up.

While younger, Arena had never really been a keen shopper but had followed her sisters into the department stores through duty more than interest. Hers lay in standing on some of the balconies and watching people rush around, worrying about everything from birthday and Christmas presents to clothes and games. Each of those things were just as important as the next for all the consumers. Not one of them really stopped to watch others go by, only concerned with their own lives. And Arena had often found it fascinating, like she found the rapidly filling theatre now.

"I love watching people go about their own lives,"

Arena frowned, she hadn't spoken the words but they were so accurate as to her own thoughts that it scared her. Glancing to her side, she saw that Valon was also staring over the crowds below, a peculiar expression on his handsome face, his eyebrows arrowed down as he did so. "They just whiz around, concerned with their own goals, never stopping to consider they may be in danger or if someone was risking their lives to protect them. They take it all for granted."

He blinked and then moved his eyes to her, a deep rooted emotion plaguing their depths, "But then, that is their place, their way of life. Each fruitless in the bigger scale of things but needed to keep things going."

Arena stared at him, unable to tear her eyes away, his words mystifying her in a way that she'd never really understand. She understood them, had lived her life by the very same philosophy but the way he spoke of them confounded her beyond belief. "The horses of a drawn carriage go unnoticed unless they are absent, then how should it be moved?"

A small smile appeared on his face, "Exactly."

"Is there a reason we should be talking about this?" Arena asked, not really sure of the conversation herself, she was really lost.

"Just making sure you're not a snob Arena." he replied easily, turning back to the crowds below them as the lights began to dim around them. "It would be quite a pity if you were the Snob and Ice Queen…"

Arena blinked before realising he was insulting her again, "I…I…excuse me…you arrogant…you…"

"Sssh…" Valon brought a finger up to his lips in the bare light, gesturing towards the stage as the curtains began to draw open.

Arena glared at him for a moment before silently vowing that this wasn't over; she was truly sick and tired of taking everything he had to dish out on her and not getting any satisfaction over it herself. She hated this man so passionately it made her blood boil and it scared her that he was the only person able to make her feel so in any way. No, after this show, she was going to give this man a piece of her mind and then stalk out of his life for good.

Valon watched her silently in the darkness as her face became entranced with the opera on stage; she was clearly familiar with this show and with the Italian in which it was sung, her face held no confusion, only captivation over the lead lady's voice that rang out throughout the large room filled with a huge audience. He'd seen her face as she looked over the whole crowd and hadn't been able to decide if she had been looking down her nose or had been as interested as he had been. That had been why he'd called her on it; he'd simply needed to know for sure.

Earlier, walking casually behind her as she'd hurried into the building, he'd been struck when he'd suddenly looked up and seen her standing there in that deep green dress that came to her ankles and left creamy shoulders bared to his gaze. Unable to tear his eyes away, he'd met her gaze head on and knew at that moment that there was no more denying it; he was attracted to Arena Gregory and she returned the sentiment, whether she was prepared to verbally admit it or not.

Even the distance that separated them hadn't been able to disguise the raw hunger and longing he'd glimpsed in those sapphire-like eyes as they'd collided with his own deeper gaze. But the moment had clearly rattled her and she'd thrown up that icy shield in reaction to it, so vividly that he'd seen the coolness as if she was breathing in a cold room and her breath was becoming freezing vapour. But it had all been too late, it had all been decided; in the near future, Arena Gregory was going to be his and he wasn't going to take no, or her freezing rejections, for an answer. He just had to bide his time and get through this night for now.

--

"And do you, Rafael, take this woman to be your wife?"

"I do."

Aimee blinked and continued to stare at the back of the church, trying not to look as bored and tired as she felt; since it was an evening wedding, you'd think they'd have it at a relaxed pace. But no, from early morning, Abigail had been charging about like a steamroller, forcing them to appointment after appointment, even just to get their nails done, which had seemed pointless to the younger cousin. Who the hell would be looking at her nails when there was bride and groom getting married on the altar?

She tried to focus on Abigail's splendidly tailored dress or towards Alyssa's same replica of the one she wore as both stood on the altar for their duties. She'd known Alyssa had been reluctant to be maid of honour but the red head was covering it up well despite her downtrodden actions earlier in the day, her immaculate hair held high with a number of tresses hanging around her face; the same style every one of them bore as the rest of the cousins sat in the front row watching the proceedings.

Arena watched her sister openly, a small, proud smile on her usually impassive face all the love showing there for the elder child. Arianna kept trying to concentrate on the proceedings but her inexperience with such a huge congregation was making her nervous so that she kept glancing behind her at the many well-known faces of high society. Atlanta had slid a little lower in her seat, as if relaxing while keeping a lazy eye on the couple up front, emotion barely flickering across her face, her lids heavy and her lips slightly parted.

Aimee stopped observing her cousins before turning back to the altar, thinking about how else she could distract herself from this mundane afternoon about love and romance, those fickle ideologies that so many in the world seemed to believe in. She had more important things to take care of, like her research into the origin of Duel Monsters and the Shadow Games she'd heard so much about; if only this thing would end…

"I now pronounce you man and wife!"

Aimee was one of the first to her feet, applauding the end of the monotonous ceremony that had bored her so when Rafael finally kissed Abigail, his new wife. Beside her, Arianna had hesitantly stood up, before doing more confidently, applauding with the rest of the congregation. Sighing with relief, an emotion she couldn't contain, she took her place at Atlanta's side as they all follow the bride and groom back down the aisle. She now just had to get through the pictures before she got to put her feet up and relax, something she only allowed herself to do on special occasions.