Chapter 11

Joey opened his eyes slightly as the morning sun burrowed into his brain. "Mommy!" he heard on his left side. He turned his head in that direction and saw his twins standing in the chair beside his bed as Duke and Tristan held on to them so they wouldn't fall. Joey's eyes filled with tears as he reached for his babies. He awkwardly pulled both of them onto the bed and held them tight.

"Mommy, daddy said that we weren't apposed to get in bed with you!" Miyuki said.

Mizuki placed a tiny hand on his mommy's face. "Does it hurt mommy?" he asked

Joey let the tears fall. He smiled weakly at his son, "No, baby, it doesn't hurt," he lied. He saw the large bruise that covered Mizuki's cheek. Joey choked back a sob as he stroked his son's cheek.

"It's okay, mommy. It doesn't even hurt today," Mizuki said.

"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't want you to get hurt," Joey said as tears ran down his face.

Mizuki blinked back tears, "I'm sorry, mommy. I was scared at you and auntie Mai. The bad man said he was going to take you away…" Mizuki started to cry.

"Mommy's not mad at you, son. He's mad at the man who hurt you," Kaiba said from the doorway. He picked up Mizuki and squeezed him. "Mommy's proud of you," Kaiba said firmly. Joey nodded mutely. "Now go help Mokuba with your brother and sister." He helped the twins off of the bed so they would not hurt Joey, smiling as they ran out the door.

Joey looked at Kaiba. He had so many questions he wanted to ask but the only one that came out was, "Brother and sister?"

Kaiba nodded. "It seems like the kids found another set of twins in that hell hole where you were held captive. They're not even a year old. Miyuki and Mizuki refused to leave without them. Their parents were killed by the gang that kidnapped you, Mai and the kids. This morning I adopted them and became part of the family."

Joey felt a pain in his heart. "You and your fiancée will be happy, no doubt."

"Goddamnit!" Kaiba yelled before getting control of his emotions. He counted to ten and took a deep breath. "That thing you are calling my fiancée was one of your kidnappers. She owned a brothel that specialized in fraternal twin sex. She was going to use the kids as an attraction in her establishment when they were old enough."

Joey felt the world go dark and he fell back on to his bed. "She was going to use my babies?" he closed his mind against the thought. He felt nauseated. Kaiba called for the nurse to come medicate Joey. After the nurse left the room, Joey asked, "Where is she now?"

"She's holed up in a brothel in China. I have eyes on her all of the time. She won't ever be able to come close to you or the kids again."

"What happened to those guys?" Joey asked.

"Don't ask," Kaiba said. His eyes flashed dangerously.

"Where are the babies?" Joey asked trying to find safer ground. Kaiba opened the door and motioned Mokuba to bring in the kids. Joey's eyes widened as he saw the little babies in Mokuba's arms. He wanted to hold them, but with his arm in a cast and his fingers taped, it was too awkward to do it now.

Miyuki pointed to Joey and said, "This is our mommy. He's your mommy now too. You should call him mommy like Mizuki and Miyuki does." The babies stared at Joey with their thumbs in their mouths and eyes wide.

"Miyuki, these are Kaiba's babies, not mine. You shouldn't tell them to call me mommy. What are their names?" he asked Kaiba without looking at him.

Kaiba bit the inside of his cheek to stop the sharp retort that was threatening to come out. "Mara and Sora," he said tightly.

Joey smiled at the twins. "Mama," Mara said as she reached for Joey.

"Mama," Sora said too as he leaned in. Mokuba placed the babies on the bed and they crawled up to Joey's chest. They lay against Joey refusing to get up.

Mizuki and Miyuki climbed onto the bed too. "Be careful and don't hurt mommy." Mizuki warned the babies. The two sets of twins lay in bed with their mommy until Kaiba called an end to it when he saw Joey yawn.

Kaiba picked the twins up and deposited them on the ground next to him and then he handed Sora and Mara to Mokuba to take home. Before Mokuba could walk out of the room the door opened and Yuugi and Tea walked in. Tea clasped her hand to her mouth and choked back a sob when she saw Joey. She ran to the bed and hugged him.

"Tea, that's enough. You're hurting Joey," Yuugi said lightly when he saw the pained look on Joey's face. He walked over to the bed and placed a hand on Joey's shoulder giving it a light squeeze.

"Oh God Joey, I'm sorry." Tea pulled off of Joey. She plumped up his pillows and called for the nurse to give Joey pain medication. She held his cup of water for him as he drank. She was worse than Kaiba when it came to asking the nurses questions and keeping up on Joey's treatments.

The twins had climbed back onto the bed with their mommy. Mara and Sora glared at the Tea, but Mizuki and Miyuki chatted with her. Tea cooed over the two sets of twins and talked motherhood with Joey. She and Yuugi were thinking about having a baby of their own soon. While Tea was mothering Joey, Kaiba and Yuugi were off in a corner talking quietly.

"Have you seen Mai?" Joey asked Tea.

"We came to the hospital from the airport and right to your room. Besides, I'm not so sure I want to see her. This was all her fault."

"No Tea," Joey said. "She tried to get me to run with the kids, she tried to protect us. She even told the guy who kidnapped us to leave me and the kids and she would go with him. It was my own fault that I got caught."

"You almost died, Joe," Tea whispered.

"It's still wasn't her fault. Go see her please. She needs as much support as you're giving me. She's our friend," Joey said as he squeezed her hand.

"We will, Joey. I promise," Tea said.

"Thanks. And be nice when you do. She really wasn't at fault," Joey said firmly.

Joey struggled to keep his eyes opened while he talked to Tea. Sora, Mara, Mizuki and Miyuki were already asleep on the bed. Yuugi walked over to the bed and said "Time to go, Tea. Joey needs his sleep." He smiled down at Joey, "Kaiba tells me that you're in for a couple of weeks of rehab. Tea's next show starts in two months, so we'll be around. Get some sleep for now and we'll see you later. We gotta go check into the hotel." He ruffled the hair of the sleeping children and waved as he and Tea departed.

Joey was alone with Kaiba if you didn't count the four sleeping children. Joey had so many questions to ask Kaiba, but he wanted to put off the inevitable. He picked at the blanket that covered him and the children. He avoided looking at Kaiba.

"You should sleep, Joey. I'll take the kids and go home. We'll come back later," Kaiba said as he reached for a sleeping twin.

"No, wait Kaiba I wanna ask you something. I need to know, but I'm scared of what you're gonna say," Joey said sleepily.

"Ask me later, sleep now."

"NO!" Joey said firmly. He shook his head to clear it. "I have to know this. Who did you buy the ring for?"

"How do you know about the ring? I never said anything about it to anyone."

Joey felt a sharp pain in his chest. Kaiba didn't even respect him enough to tell him the truth about the ring. "I saw it on a special report… Never mind, Seto" he laid back in the bed and closed his eyes.

Kaiba went to his trench coat that was lying across the recliner. He pulled out a jewelry box and walked back to the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed and opened the box. Joey opened his eye and looked into the box. The ring inside was obviously for a man, but it was delicate as well. It was platinum with six stones inlaid around the band. There was something engraved on the inside of the band, but he was unable to read it because it was still in the box.

Kaiba cleared his throat and said, "I bought it for you. I love you Joey, I always have and always will. I tried to forget about you, thought I could get you out of my system; but I can't. You're like the air that I breathe the food and water I need to survive. I need you to live, Joey. I need you and the children. The stones are the children's and our birthstones they represent our family. Marry me, Joey."

Joey sat there speechless. He had dreamed of this moment for the past six years. He shook his head. "You never said anything to me."

"You think you're the only one afraid of rejection, kitten." Kaiba said. He was getting nervous since Joey hadn't answered him yet.

"I love you, Seto. I always will. I've always belonged to you," Joey said as tears of joy ran down his face.

Kaiba pulled the ring out of the box, "Is that a yes?"

"That's a hell yes. Just you try to back out of this!" He pulled Kaiba to him for a soul searing kiss. When he pulled back he said, "You forgot Mokuba's stone."

"I'll have that put in tomorrow," Kaiba promised. He kissed Joey again. He placed the ring on Joey's finger as they kissed. It wouldn't go all the way down, but he expected that since the swelling in Joey's hand.

Joey took off the ring to read the inscription. Forever and always. Tears stung his eyes. He put the ring back on. He placed a hand along Kaiba's cheek and whispered "Forever and always, my love."

Kaiba turned his head and kissed the palm of Joey's hand. "I can arrange it so we can get married tomorrow," Kaiba said.

"Are you kiddin' me? I don't wanna get married in a hospital. I'm walking down the aisle in two weeks!" Joey said. He laughed as pulled Kaiba in for another kiss.

Rivulets of sweat ran down Joey's face as he held onto the parallel bars at his waist. His breathing became labored with the effort. He took another step.

"That's it, Joey. Keep going. Mr. Kaiba's right there at the end waiting for you." Joey threw a glare at the physical therapist. He knew he should be grateful, but the man drove him crazy. He was worse than Tea with his cheerleading. Joey took a deep breath and let go of the bars. He continued to take small slow steps. He saw the encouragement in Kaiba's eyes and drew strength from it. Determined, Joey gritted his teeth against the pain and continued to move forward. He reached the end of the bars and fell into Kaiba's arms.

Kaiba pulled Joey against him and kissed his temple. He was impressed with Joey's progress, but was anxious as he watched his beloved struggle to walk. He wanted to carry him, coddle him, but Joey refused to back away from the challenge of rehab. The swelling had gone from Joey's face and the bruises were beginning to fade. He brushed Joey's sweat soaked hair from his brow and kissed his forehead.

"Again," Joey said as he pulled away from Kaiba.

"That's enough for today, Joey," the physical therapist said as Joey turned to start down the path again.

"Again!" Joey said firmly. He was determined to get better soon.

Kaiba pulled Joey back into his arms and said, "Listen to him, Joey. You've done enough today." He kissed the back of Joey's neck and put his arms around his lower back and under his knees and lifted him into his arms. He carried Joey to a wheelchair and placed him in it.

Joey gave Kaiba a disgruntled look which Kaiba ignored. He turned his face and sulked. "Can you take me to see Mai?" he asked Kaiba as he started to wheel him out of the physical therapy room. Mai had refused to talk to anyone and refused all visitors, even Joey. He was determined to see her today though.

Kaiba turned down Mai's hall and pushed Joey into her room. "Sir, you can't go in there… Sir…" Kaiba glared the nurse into silence and continued to push Joey through the door.

"Can you give me a minute?" Joey asked.

Kaiba nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Mai refused to look at Joey. Her hair was dirty and matted to her head. Her face was covered in bruises just like his and she had black eyes. A bandage was wrapped around her nose area was the cleanest spot on her face. Her eyes stared lifelessly out the window.

"Mai, look at me," Joey said. Mai ignored him and continued to stare out the window. "Mai, talk to me…"

Tears rolled down her cheek as she continued to stare. Mai's heart was breaking. She refused to look at Joey because she couldn't bear the rejection in his eyes. She knew she deserved it, but it was killing her.

"I'm not leaving this room until we talk, Mai," Joey said firmly. He drew in a sharp breath when Mai turned her hopeless, dead eyes on him.

"Its okay, Joey, I know how you feel. I'll stay out of your life… I'm just so sorry…" she broke down and began to cry.

Her gut wrenching sobs tore through Joey's soul. He knew that Mai would take all of the responsibility on herself. Joey locked the wheelchair and struggled to stand which only made Mai cry harder. He took slow steady steps toward her bed and collapsed on it. He pulled Mai into his arms and held her lightly taking care not to hurt her taped ribs. Her body shook with grief. "Mai, if you try to leave my life, I'd find you and drag you back. You're my family sweetie, nothing will ever change that. This was not your fault. I love you and I'm so proud of you. You tried to protect us."

Mai sobbed as she clung to Joey. "My fault…" she cried. "Better off without me..."

Joey patted her back with his taped hand. "What would I do without you, Mai? You're my best friend. The kids and I adore you. How could we be better off without you?"

Mai said, "I put you all in danger. You almost died and the twins were going to a brothel. Everything I touch turns to shit!" she screamed. "You, the twins, and Valon should just leave me," she said tiredly. She pushed Joey away and turned onto her side. Her breathing became wheezy and shallow.

Joey stroked her back, "I won't ever leave you Mai. I'll always be here for you whether you want me here or not. You're stuck with me, babe, forever."

"Kaiba hates me," she whispered.

"He does not," Joey said firmly. "He knows this wasn't your fault. You were beaten, Mai. He knows you weren't in on this." He pulled Mai back to him with his good hand. He placed his chin on top of her head and put his good arm behind her. He stroked her cheek with his left hand.

Kaiba came into the room and saw Joey on the bed and the wheelchair across the room. He scowled at his fiancé. "You just had to do it."

Joey looked at his lover sheepishly. "I told you, I'm walking down the aisle to you on our wedding day."

Mai saw the ring on Joey's left hand. "Oh, Joey, I'm so happy for you, congratulations." She kissed Joey's cheek. She dared to look over at Kaiba, "I'm so sorry for this, Kaiba. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Please forgive me," she begged.

"For what?" he asked. "You're a victim too, Mai."

Mai started to cry again. Joey soothed her as Kaiba went out to get the nurse to see to her. The nurse asked them to leave the room as she gave Mai a bath. Kaiba carried Joey to the wheelchair and placed him in it. He pushed Joey out of the room.

Joey and Kaiba sat outside of the room. Joey took Kaiba's hand in his and said, "Thank you." Kaiba grunted in response. Joey kissed his hand. They sat in silence holding each other's hand. The nurse came out and told them that Mai was asking for them.

Kaiba pushed Joey over to the bed and locked the wheelchair. He sat next to him in a chair. Mai looked much cleaner. Joey asked her, "How do you feel?"

"Better, tired, stupid. I should have known you would never blame me, Joey. I just felt so guilty and ashamed. I'm sor…"

"Enough," Kaiba said. Mai flinched at his tone. "You don't have to apologize any more, Mai. It's over."

Mai blushed and nodded. "When is your big day?" she asked.

"We still need to get through rehab, right Joey," Kaiba said.

Joey glared at him. "Two weeks at the most."

Mai smiled, "You want wedding pictures with all of those bruises?"

"Shit," Joey said. He forgot all about that.

Kaiba smiled. "I have a lot of arrangements to make. But I already know who the best man will be."

"Mokuba, right," she said.

"No. I want you to be the woman of honor, Mai," Kaiba said.

Tears came to her eyes as she nodded speechless. She beamed a huge smile and said, "Thank you."

Kaiba placed a light peck on the crown of her head, "Sleep. We'll see you later," when he saw both of the blonds yawn. He waited while Joey kissed his friend's cheek and pushed him back to his room.

He picked Joey up out of the chair to put him in the bed. Joey put his arms around his shoulders and kissed him deeply. "Thank you so much for doing that. I love you."

Kaiba smiled and lay Joey on the bed. "You're welcome." He started to pull back, but Joey kept his arms locked around Kaiba's neck and pulled him down again. Joey kissed him hungrily, opening his mouth to draw Kaiba in deeper. Kaiba groaned and surrendered to Joey's demanding lips. He was fast losing control. He pulled away from the seductive blond and closed his eyes leaning his forehead onto Joey's breathing harshly. "Do you know what you're doing to me, baby?" he asked in a strained voice.

Joey nibbled on his ear and whispered, "Exactly what you do to me. I want you."

"We can't. The kids will be here soon and so will the rest of the nerd herd," he smiled as Joey frowned at the name. Kaiba actually used the name as an endearment this time. He kissed Joey hard one last time leaving the blond breathless and pulled back. "You won't be so lucky later, though. I plan on loving you until you can't walk straight." He leered at his lover.

Joey's body heated to volcanic temperatures at the look Kaiba gave him and the promise in the words he spoke. "I look forward to it."

Chapter 11 all done. Hope you liked it. Please read and review.