I'm really sorry, I just watched a certain episode of GX, and have lost all will to write.
If you watch the Japanese, you'll understand what I'm saying.
I wrote the last few pages while denying myself any sunlight, telling myself I needed to get this chapter done.
I'll have a one shot out next week. Only read it if you follow the Japanese GX
In the span of a week, Xander had learned a few more words.
Card, well, that one was a given for him to learn.
Dummy, Zane cracked up uncontrollably when he found out that his son addressed both of his uncles this way. All were scarred for life at the witnessing of this laughter.
And, of course, every baby's favorite word: No.
"Zane, wake up" Alexis said, shaking the sleeping brunette.
It was almost ten AM, Zane had gotten in late the past night after a duel and being forced to go to the after party.
Zane grumbled something incomprehensible.
"Zane, it's late, your publicist is having a heart attack" Alexis said, shaking him harder.
Good, maybe she'll drop dead and leave me alone for once. Zane thought, pulling the covers over his head.
"Zane! Wake up sleepy head" She said, nudging the twenty three year old.
Zane just stayed silent.
"Zane, I slept with Edo last night" Alexis whispered into his ear.
"No you didn't" Zane grumbled.
Alexis was beginning to get pissed, real, real pissed.
She did the only thing she could think of.
She tickled him.
"FUCK! HAHAHAHA!" Zane laughed.
"See. Your awake, now get dressed" Alexis said, trying to pull him out of the bed. Easier said than done, as he beat her by at least six inches, and thirty pounds, probably more.
He didn't know what was more pathetic, the fact that he was ticklish, or the fact that Alexis couldn't even pull him out of bed.
"Zane get up! NOW!" she screeched.
Rolling his eyes, Zane, as slowly as possible, pulled himself into the land of the living.
"I'll be back in a few hours, watch Xander, please and thank you!" she said as quickly as possible before running out of the door.
Lovely. He thought sarcastically.
"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Xander was crawling around the house, screaming at the top of his little lungs.
Zane ran over and scooped him up.
"NO! NO! NO! NO!" Xander shrieked.
"Yes" Zane said, before smelling that distinct smell.
Just great.
Holding his son as far from his face as possible, Zane set him down on the changing table.
If anyone had seen Zane changing a diaper, they probably would have laughed themselves into submission. Of course, they also would have had to explain to him why they were in his house.
"CARD!" Zane rolled his eyes at this statement.
"Is not a food, as much as you beg to differ" yes, Xander had started teething, and one of his favorite foods was cards, and not just any cards, only the rare ones. Zane and Alexis had to keep there decks locked up at all times thanks to Xander's fetish.
The phone rang.
Please oh mighty gawd don't let it be…
It was.
"Hi, I see you finally woke up huh? Well, I need you at the office ASAP, see you soon" She had hung up.
Zane, unfortunately, could not argue with her, which is how he found himself in the back seat of a cab, holding his four and a half month old son on his lap.
It was a funny and rare sight indeed, to see Zane walk into the office with a baby on his hip. He loved his son dearly, but he honestly could not stand looking like a pansy with a baby, so Alexis held carried him when they were in public.
"Zane, and Xander, how cute are the two of you!?" An intern squealed.
Zane barged right into the office, to see his publicist sitting in a chair, looking at some papers.
"One day you're going to come in here, and see something you don't want to see, if you keep barging in like that" She warned.
Please tell me you're retiring.
"Anyway, would you care to guess why you're here?"
"No"
"It has come to my attention that a certain person is entering the pro leagues next season as a rookie, would you care to share with me why you did not tell me?" She asked.
Because you're an ass hole and Alexis doesn't deserve to spend any more time with you then she already does?
"It's none of your business. She doesn't need a publicist" Zane said.
And nor do I
"All pro league duelists need a publicist, whether they think so or not. and do you know why?" She asked.
"Does this conversation have a point?" Zane asked.
"Yes… Have Alexis's agent contact me" She said.
"She doesn't have one" Zane said.
"Doesn't have an agent?" She said this like it was profanity.
"GET GORILLA ON THE PHONE, NOW!" She screamed to her secretary.
Zane rolled his eyes and put Xander down in one of the armchairs facing the desk.
I should just leave. He thought.
"YOU ARE NOT LEAVING UNTILL THIS GIRL HAS COVERAGE!" She yelled, reading Zane's facial expression.
"Dummy!" Xander shrieked.
Zane coughed to cover up his laugh.
His current source of anoyment was done on the phone.
"She has representation, we'll work on publicity once the season starts" She said.
Has it ever occurred to you that you piss me off.
"NO!" Xander screamed.
"No, no what Xander?" His publicist asked.
Xander sucked his thumb.
"Don't you want your mommy to have representation?"
"no" Xander put his thumb right back into his mouth.
"But don't you want your mommy to duel next season?"
"Dummy!" Xander laughed.
"But your mommy is exited to duel next season"
"No" Xander laughed.
If I wasn't already convinced she was crazy, I'd be concerned that she's having a conversation with an infant.
"She isn't?"
"Card" Xander laughed.
"I think Xander doesn't want Alexis to duel next season"
The words hit head here just appeared on the desk.
"I think that I should not listen to a woman who just had a conversation with an infant who babbles incoherently" Zane murmured.
"Zane, a baby can convey his feelings in very few words"
And you would know because…
"as much faith as I have in your baby comprehension, I need to be going now" Zane said.
"Remember, there's the Christmas party tomorrow, and you PROMISED you would go" She reminded.
Shit
"I don't even celebrate Christmas" Zane said.
"And yet, your still going, goodbye Zane, and If I get wind that you were not at the party, I swear I will make your life a living hell"
Already is bitch.
"Bye Xander" She said, blowing the baby a kiss.
"Come on, lets go disinfect your body Xander" Zane mumbled.
"Xander, I don't care if you're the best duelist since the king of games himself, you're never getting a publicist" He said to the laughing baby.
"DUEL!" Xander shrieked.
Alexis was sleeping on the couch when Zane walked back into the house.
"Lexi?" Zane shook the sleeping blond.
"Ugh, my head" Alexis said, sitting up.
"Where were you?" she asked.
"My publicists, she had a fit seeing the roster for next year, and took the liberty of signing you" Zane said.
"Oh, fun, more time with the awful bitch" Alexis said.
"Where's Xander?" she asked.
"MA!" Xander crawled to the couch.
"You have fun with Daddy and the awful bitch?" Alexis asked.
"Itch!" Xander mimicked.
Alexis dropped him on the couch in shock.
"Xander!" Alexis yelled
"NO!" Xander yelled and then laughed.
Alexis sent Zane a look, as to say:
Did he just say what I think he said?
Alexis dragged Zane into the bedroom.
"Our four month old son did not just say bitch, did he?" Alexis asked.
"He said itch" Zane said,.
Alexis sighed.
"He is so smart, we need to watch our mouths around him" Alexis said.
Zane put his hands on her shoulders, and leaned his head against hers.
"Don't worry about it" he said.
"He's staying at my parent's tomorrow night, I have every right to be worried" Alexis said.
"It'll be fine" Zane said, giving her a small kiss.
Xander began to cry from the living room.
"He hasn't had lunch yet" Zane said.
Alexis scooped up the baby and sat him in the high chair.
"Zane, your mom called about something" Alexis said, feeding Xander.
Zane rolled his eyes and went into the bedroom to make a call.
"Big Brother!" Syrus answered.
"Mom called me?" Zane asked.
"Riiight, MOM THE PHONE IS FOR YOU!" Syrus yelled.
"Hi Zane, so I was watching the news this morning, and I heard about this disease that is being spread around taxi cabs, and it can be nearly fatal to infants! Please tell me that you've invested in a car" His mom rushed.
"No, I've been a bit busy, I'll think about it, okay mother?" Zane said.
"Think, oh, no, you're not just going to think, your going to do! I'll buy you a car for Hanukah, we'll go out in the morning and pick one out" His mom said.
"I have an obligation tomorrow night mother" Zane said.
"Look at you, being all formal, don't worry, I'll have you back by lunch time" Mrs.Truesdale laughed.
"I'll pick you up in the morning" She said.
Just lovely
"I need to go mom, I'll see you tomorrow" Zane said.
"Of course, I'll swing around at nine"
And then she hung up.
"Alexis, are you doing anything tomorrow?" Zane asked.
"Besides the party, not really, why?" She asked from the kitchen.
"I need to see my mom about something, and someone needs to watch Xander" Zane said.
"Yeah, no big deal" Alexis said.
Is it just me, or does she sound nervous about something?
-the next day.
"So, how are the two of you?" Mrs. Truesdale asked once they were inside the car.
"Fine" Zane said, rolling his eyes slightly.
"And Xander is already talking! He's really quick as a whip! And he's the spitting image of you" She said.
"I know, he's a great kid" Zane said.
"I know I promised not to bring it up or anything, but have you even thought about marriage?" Mrs. Truesdale smiled.
Zane coughed in answer.
"That wasn't an answer" She said.
"No, I haven't thought about it" Zane said.
"And why not? aren't you living together? You have a baby and a pretty stable job, why haven you thought about it?" She asked.
"Because I'm not really interested in adding another piece of stress to my life" Zane said.
"A wife is stressful? Are you kidding me Zane?"
"I mean a wedding mother" Zane said.
"You love her, why won't you do anything about it?" She asked.
"Mom, this isn't exactly a great time to talk about this" Zane said, avoiding eye contact.
"Zane, then when would be a good time to talk about it? When Alexis gets pregnant again? And don't tell me you two aren't having sex, I can tell. Anyway, what is keeping you from asking her?" Zane couldn't help but blush, was it that obvious that the two of them were…?
"Mom, I'm not saying that we are, but if we were, we'd be smarter about it this time. Anyway, mom, I don't know why I don't want to get married." Zane said.
"You are, but anyway, you love her, and she clearly loves you, and you two have been together for years! Just try and think about why you aren't ready to get married"
Zane sat up. Why wasn't he ready to get married? Well, he was only 23 for one thing, Alexis was only 20, and had just had her birthday at that. He loved her, and couldn't imagine ever being with anyone else, but at the same time, he didn't want to make her feel pressured. And there was the whole statistic about married couples who lived together before getting married. But they practically were, they lived together, slept together (in both senses of the word), had a baby together, and soon enough, would be working together, sorta anyway.
"I don't know" Zane said.
"You don't know why?"
"Mother! I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. But…"
I don't want to propose only a year after we both decided we weren't ready.
"I understand you're scared, but Alexis is crazy about you…" His mother placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know how she feels about it" Zane said.
"I do" She said.
"You're my mother, you're supposed to say that, but Alexis isn't a predictable girl, and I don't believe anything about her until it comes out of her mouth" Zane said.
"No, I really do, I had Mrs. Rhodes grill her yesterday" She grinned.
Zane's eyes bugged out.
"You did what!?"
"Well, we talk a lot now. Here's the thing, last year, we thought that you weren't ready to get married because you weren't sure about your feelings… but you've proven that that is incorrect. I think you're not ready because you're not sure about her feelings, right? Zane, According to her mother, Alexis would be thrilled if you proposed to her; she just doesn't think you're aware of the fact that there is a difference between being together and living together, and being married. I'd propose to her tonight if I were you" She said.
Zane couldn't believe his ears.
"Mom, you're manipulating us into getting married." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"Zane, I am not, in any means manipulating you, I'm just giving you the shove you need"
"I can't just propose at the party, in front of everyone" Zane said.
"Oh yes you can, I happen to know that there are some people there who don't think you two are really together, prove them wrong. And take this, just incase you have that epiphany before I'm old and dead!" She said, handing him a small box.
Zane opened it.
"Grandma's wedding ring?"
"In her will, it said that she leaves it to whichever of her grandsons that pops the question first"
Man, my grandma was pretty weird in her old age.
His mom pulled up in front of his child hood home.
"Its from all of us, happy holidays"
In the driveway was sitting a new car. Okay, so it was probably used, but it was a car, and it was his! He had gotten his license the day he could, but his dad hardly trusted him with a crappy used car, none the less a semi brand new one.
"Drive it out tonight, see what everyone thinks!"
"Mom, thank you, for, (pause) both of my presents" he said.
"Nu-uh, one is for your whole family, the other is for Alexis." She grinned.
Zane hugged his mother.
"Go, you have a party to go to, and by the way, tell Alexis whatever she did to convince you to get a decent hair cut, good job." She said.
Zane opened the door and got into the new car.
No, this car was definitely not used. It was nice, a leather interior, with wood paneling. And a touch screen navigation system.
Okay, lets see if I can get home without crashing it.
You see, Zane has a slight, problem. We all have it from time to time, its just, Zane has it more often then most.
Road Rage.
And living in a city full of traffic and stupid drivers only makes it worse.
"Gawd dammit, where the hell did you get your license lady!?" Zane yelled.
Ah, the sweet joys of driving in the city.
After quite a while, Zane pulled into the driveway.
It was almost four. He had an hour to get ready. Then they needed to drop Xander across town. Then they would need to drive to a nice hotel in the middle of the city (and the traffic) and hopefully make it about a half hour late.
That is, if Alexis was aware of the time frame.
Zane walked into the house, and was met by the sound of a hair dryer.
"Zane, is that you?" Alexis asked.
"yes" Zane said.
He walked to his closet and dropped the "gift" in the toe of one of his boots. No way was he even THINKING about touching that box for at least another year… right?
Of course, there is no way you are proposing tonight, no fucking way in hell.
"How's your mom?" Alexis asked from the bathroom.
"Annoying" Zane said.
"My mom was just as bad yesterday, and this morning… oh, I already dropped Xander off." She said.
Zane grunted in response.
"You are impossible Zane Truesdale." Alexis said, coming out of the bathroom.
He didn't respond.
"Zane, why are you in the closet?"
Closet, Rainbow dragon, man that is going to get old real soon.
"Looking for something" he said.
"Go shower, we only have two hours, and wet hair will ruin your suit" Alexis said.
"Have I ever mentioned that I hate parties?" Zane said.
"Only every time we need to go to one. Now don't worry, its not going to kill you" Alexis said.
That's what Ryo thought about underground duels Zane thought.
Alexis stared at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Breaking the fourth wall" Zane said.
"Go shower." She said, looking on the bureau for some kind of jewelry.
Ugh, ugh, ugh, I hate stupid pro league parties, full of stupid people, who I couldn't care less about, and or hate my guts, not that I care. Why the hell do people make me go to these things?
Zane stepped into the shower and let the cold water run over him a minuet before letting it become warm.
Later:
Zane was waiting in the living room, for Alexis, again. The party started at seven, and it was six thirty, just enough time to get there if there was no traffic (not likely on Christmas eve).
"Alexis, as much as I love the fact that were going to be late, we need to get moving" Zane said.
"Coming!" Alexis said.
She came into the hallway, pulling her heels on.
She was dressed in black cocktail gown. It had a halter top and a v neck, not that you saw so much. It hit the ground. It had transparent beads around the v neck, the strap, and going down the back, as well as a few lines down the front.
Her hair was curled around her shoulders, she was wearing makeup, and a pair of chandelier earrings, made out of similar beads to the ones on the dress.
No! Zane! YOU WILL NOT GET A NOSEBLEED! He thought, tilting his head back, just incase.
"Wow" he said.
"You look pretty wow yourself" She smiled
Zane was shocked at how easy it was to get ready with such short hair. No gel, no styling, no nothing, it just sat.
"Are you sure you're not dressed like that to impress anyone?" Zane said, smiling.
"Nobody but you, and I've already got you wrapped around my finger don't I?" She laughed.
Finger, impressed Zane began getting a bit, um, nervous.
"I, left something in our room, hold on" Zane said.
Alexis made a face.
"Since when do you forget things?" She asked.
Zane glared at her.
Alexis tapped her foot on the floor as Zane went into the room.
"Got it" He said.
"What?" Alexis asked.
"Car keys" he said.
"You don't have a car" Alexis said.
"That's where I was today" Zane smirked.
He pulled the car keys out of his pocket.
-Later.
"Zane, don't be so pissed, were a half hour late, wasn't that your goal?" Alexis asked.
"Make sure that I'm not drinking" Zane said.
"Trust me, way ahead of you" Alexis smirked.
"No, I'm driving" Zane said.
Alexis rolled her eyes.
Zane and Alexis got out of the car, he handed the keys to the valet.
They walked into the ballroom. Several people were already in there, talking, a few dancing.
All of their group who was at the party were sitting at a table near the bar. Everyone doing shots.
Alexis walked over.
"Lex!" Jaden shouted.
"Hey Jaden, how are you?" She asked.
"Sweet!" He was grinning, with a red blush on his cheeks.
"Jaden, how many have you shot?" Zane said with a glare.
"Four!" Jaden yelled, with his hands up in the air, grinning like a maniac.
"Care to join us?" Edo asked with a little smirk.
"I'm Driving" Zane said.
"So you finally won enough duels to buy a car?" Edo taunted.
"I'm 11 and 0, your 10 and 1, you shouldn't open your mouth." Zane said.
"But how many times have you won the whole season?" Edo smirked.
How many times have you gotten laid little man? Zane considered saying this, and then concluded it would be too rude.
"That's what I thought," Edo smirked.
I didn't think it was possible, but I think he's an even bigger prick when he's drunk. What an ass hole…
"Christmas spirit?" Alexis asked.
"Hey Alexis, no I think certain people here lack that trait, and how are you?" Johan asked.
"I'm fine" Alexis said.
"You seem well rested, a rare trait for a new mother" Chazz said.
"Xander is loud during the day, but he really defines the term sleep like a baby" Alexis smiled, taking a seat at the table.
The table basically looked like this.
E Jaden Johan C
d h
o a
Alexis Zane z
z
Edo Jaden Johan and Chazz all reached for the platter where the shots were sitting.
"Zane's driving, Alexis you in?" Edo asked.
"Um, no, its okay… I'm not really a big fan of drinking" Alexis said with a smile.
Besides, its going to be a hell of a lot more fun to watch the lot of you get drunk she thought.
"3, 2, 1, BANZAI!" Jaden yelled, everyone tilted their heads back and drank the bitter liquid.
-5 minutes (and 12 shots later)
Chazz had gotten up to get another platter of shots.
Edo was laughing while trying to bounce a quarter into the empty shot glasses.
Jaden was sitting on Johan's lap, which made a certain blue haired duelist, very uncomfortable.
Or in other words, the four duelists were thoroughly and utterly drunk.
There was apparently some kind of music being played and about two dozen couples were dancing.
Alexis spotted someone very familiar on the dance floor.
"Is that his daughter?" Alexis asked Zane.
"Who?" Zane asked.
"The girl dancing with seto kaiba" Alexis said.
"I hope so" Zane said, his mind debating whether she was family, or something else.
The girl had to be their age, maybe younger, and she had to be at least ten years younger then her dance partner.
"Edo, do you know who that is?" Alexis asked, pointing to the girl on the dance floor.
"I have no clue, but she is hot" Edo said, with a silly grin on his face.
Drunken edo, oh the possibilities…
"Why don't you ask her to dance?" Zane said in a mock helpful voice.
Edo smiled and got up from his chair.
Alexis stomped on Zane's foot, hard.
"ZANE! What are you thinking?!" She hissed.
"That that ass hole is getting what he deserves" Zane said.
Chazz was long gone, and Jaden and Johan were now making out, (which Zane was trying to ignore) the two sane people of the table watched as Edo went onto the dance floor.
He said something to Kaiba and the girl, and then she started dancing with him (!!!)
When the song was over, Edo brought the girl over to the table.
Chazz had finally returned with the shots.
"Karin, would you like to join us?" Edo asked.
Karin took a seat next to Edo, and ended up drinking more then anyone else could.
It was almost midnight, and Zane and Alexis said their goodbyes to their friends (and rival)
Zane was a bit tired, but something was itching at him. He felt the weight in his pocket, from a box that shouldn't have weighed all that much.
Zane got the car from the valet, and he and Alexis climbed inside.
"See, much easier then drinking and then having to stay the night" Alexis said with a grin.
Zane began to drive, when they were nearing their neighbor hood, Zane took a left where he should have taken a right.
"Zane, you took a wrong turn" Alexis said.
Zane remained silent, and kept driving.
"Zane?" Alexis said uncertainty.
It was dark, and Alexis couldn't tell were they were.
Zane stopped the car. He kept the headlights on.
"Go outside for a second" Zane said, getting something out from the back seat.
Alexis looked at him skeptically, but none the less, got out of the car.
Zane joined her one minuet afterward, holding out a blanket, with a basket in one hand.
"Zane, what's going on?" Alexis asked.
"Simple. There's a meteor shower tonight, and you are going to watch it with me" Zane said with a grin that he couldn't contain. Not that Alexis could see it, it was too dark.
Zane laid out the blanket and pulled out the basket. Inside was some cake, some fruit, and some champagne. The expensive kind.
"Zane, I'm in a ball gown, we can't sit out here like this!" Alexis said.
They were on top of a hill, one overlooking the suburb where they lived, and the city.
Alexis took off her shoes and sighed, when Zane wanted to do something, he did it.
Alexis dug through the basket, and pulled out a piece of fruit.
"Its cold!" She said, popping it into her mouth.
"Hence, a second blanket" Zane said, handing it to her.
Alexis scooted next to Zane.
"Your warmer" She said, leaning on his shoulder.
The meteor shower began, it was a small one, but very cool, none the less.
Zane opened up the champagne and poured two glasses.
Alexis took hers and looked at Zane.
"you cant drink that!" Alexis said.
"One glass won't kill me" Zane said. His voice shook, and Alexis didn't miss that.
Alexis lifted the glass up to her lips when she noticed an unusual glimmer.
She chugged the drink, keeping her lips closed enough that only the liquid could pass through.
She rattled her glass, and then dumped the "intruder" into her hand.
Zane snatched it out of her hand.
"I really don't know what to say right now." He started.
Alexis almost gasped, she had suspected it, but still couldn't believe it was happening.
"I love you, to the point where it confuses me. And I know we both agreed not until were ready, but I am ready, but, if your not, I'm willing to wait for you, Alexis, will you marry me?"
The next morning.
Oh my head, how much did I drink last night? The thought had to squeeze its way through his massive hangover headache.
His eyes bugged out.
Karin!????? He thought, looking at the naked female who was using his stomach for a pillow.
Yup, Edo was in deep, deep shit.
-To be continued.
Yup, there's more, only one to three chapters left, I'm not sure were I'm going to end it.
Still too depressed to update, this was very forced, expect an update sometime in the next few weeks, maybe…
10join
Fei!