Princess Aaliyah: revamping the series, yes. But the stories aren't as different as this one, just embellished, so I'll be updating/replacing chapters in chunks.

When Jem entered the dining hall everyone else was already there. She slowed for a moment, seeing the seating arrangement was slightly altered. Her brother was immediately to Pegasus' left, his youngest daughter pouting as she sat a seat away from her father. Jem was then faced with the decision of whether she wanted to sit next to or across from her sister. Part of her wanted to sit at the far end of the table with lots of space between her and her family, but she knew she would only be scolded and required to move. It turned out she didn't actually have a choice, as her father had decided for her.

"Jemma, by my side," he directed.

Until now she had been sitting across from her sister and perhaps looking at each other only caused them to bicker more.

Effie sighed loudly as Jem took her seat. Jem ignored her as she rashly unfolded her napkin and placed it in her lap. Effie sighed again.

"Are you having some sort of problem?" Jem asked, it seeming as though the new layout wouldn't help.

"No," Effie snapped.

Jem looked to Jude, who added, "This is my life."

"Quiet, both of you," Pegasus commanded, speaking to the twins. "Effie, I'm having you sit there because we're having a guest tonight. I wanted you across from him because you'll be the most pleasant." She perked up at this, smirking as she too put her napkin in her lap. Pegasus turned to his other daughter, his demeanor completely changing. "And you are sitting the furthest because you will be the least pleasant."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jem said dryly, picking up her water for a sip.

"And hopefully," he said a bit more forcefully, "sitting next to me will cut down on your snide comments."

"I'll be neither pleasant nor unpleasant," Jude volunteered. "Just to really round it out."

Pegasus just turned his eyes to him and sighed, but before he could say anything, Jemmie set her water down and declared, "You mean you'll be quiet because you've been singing all day and want to save what's left of your voice for tomorrow? And you're starving?"

He smiled. "You know me too well, J."

"If you're actually able to stay quiet, it will be a Christmas miracle!" she teased a bit dramatically, as she would occasionally act in these situations when she was slightly annoyed.

"[If E can manage to keep it in her pants through tomorrow, it will be a Christmas miracle]," he countered.

Pegasus sharply turned to him. "What did I tell you about your secret language?" he scolded just as Jem began to laugh.

Jude didn't really pay him any attention, more caught up in the attention he was getting from his sister. He smirked as he continued to watch her laugh. "You think that's way too funny," he jeered.

Jem took a sip of her water to try to calm herself. "I could say the same thing about you."

"No," he returned, smiling in good humor and leaning forward to declare, "it would be a Christmas tragedy."

Pegasus was about ready to declare some sort of punishment, though he couldn't come up with one right away. He was slightly distracted by his daughter's smile and laughter, which he hadn't heard or seen in years.

Effie looked at her father, pouting and expecting something. "You know they're talking about me, Daddy," she whined, trying to instigate a punishment.

"You're so self-center," the elder sister quipped.

Before it could progress any further, the far doors opened and Seto Kaiba entered, escorted by Kemo.

The family turned their attention towards him, each with a separate reaction. Jude was disinterested while his twin tried to seem the same. Pegasus switched gears to his facade and Effie perked up. She was tired of being harassed by her siblings, and in her experience boys tended to be a lot kinder to her.

"Well this is unexpected," Kaiba said coldly, slowly approaching with his eyes fixed on Pegasus. "When I said I wanted to speak with you, I meant alone."

"Oh, Kaiba-boy, how nice of you to join us. Please, have a seat. You're our guest, after all," Pegasus said pompously. "We'll chat after we eat."

Kaiba narrowed his eyes, annoyed with his theatrics. He apprehensively took the seat next to Jude, who seemed unfazed by the whole thing. Kemo stood ready at the wall behind Kaiba.

Jem looked over to see her sister making lovey eyes at Seto. She knew perfectly well what that meant. Here we go again...

"Hi, I'm Effie." He did not answer her, glaring at Pegasus and trying his best to not glance at Jem. "What's your name?"

Jem answered first. "Oh my god Effie, he just said it."

"Profanity, Jemma," Pegasus corrected.

"My apologies," Jem replied sarcastically. "Oh my heavens-"

Jude saw this as a fun game. "OH my stars!-"

Jem smiled. "Oh my word!-"

"Oh my goodness gracious!" The twins' voices rang back and forth, filled with drama and sarcasm.

"Oh my ears and whiskers, Effie. He just fucking said it," Jem finished.

"Jemmea," Pegasus scolded quietly between clenched teeth.

Effie was too confused to acknowledge their mockery. "Your name is Pegasus, too? Are we related?" she asked Kaiba. She looked concerned, perhaps suddenly regretting her intentions of flirting.

Jude just laughed, loud and before he could stop himself.

"Wow. No. Him as in Max," Jem retorted. Effie's stupidity just irritated her and she did not find it funny as her brother did.

The meals were laid before them, including the still somewhat flustered Kaiba.

"Effie, dearest," Pegasus began, "This is Seto Kaiba. He's a business partner, CEO of the Kaiba Corporation. Kaiba-boy," he continued, turning to him as his tone became tinted with a darkness, "I suppose I don't have to introduce my children, as you already seem to know who they are."

Jude quickly yet subtly looked at his sister. On her way to her reward, she had stopped by to warn him about dinner. More importantly, she stopped to remind him that neither of them were supposed to know Kaiba and to act like it. For a minute he thought perhaps she had been found out, but she quickly shook her head, only briefly and discreet enough that only he noticed. He looked away, taking the cue to continue with the original plan, which was a large part of why he wouldn't be saying much.

Meanwhile, Effie continued her pursuit. "Oh! Kaiba-boy. Well, my father has pet names for everyone. He calls them Jemma and Juda, but he calls me Effie-dearest because I'm his princess," she turned and smiled at her father, who smiled back warmly at the affection from his child, this momentarily distracting him. Effie turned back to Kaiba, adding disdainfully, "Jemmea hates the term, can you believe it?"

"It just had such a connotation," she went off, her eyes still on her food. "So dainty and privileged. Queen isn't bad, nor is duchess, empress is really the best, if one had to be something-"

"Or countess if you wanted to get all spooky," Jude chimed.

Jem let her hands fall to either side of her plate, looking up at him, distressed. "No- well, yes- they're essentially the same thing. Duchess is English while countess is from other parts of Europe, but was made into this spooky thing because of Bram Stoker's Dracula, for one-"

Extremely irritated, her sister turned to her and snapped, "Could you not go on one of your boring rants for once? Nobody cares. Thanks." She turned her attention back to Kaiba, her tone again flirtatious. "Anyway, what do you like to be called?"

Kaiba said nothing.

"So Kaiba-boy!" started Pegasus. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in soo long!"

"Cut the small talk, Pegasus. When-" Kaiba snapped before Pegasus interrupted him.

"Oh Kaiba-boy! It's always business with you. Eat! Relax!"

Effie was intrigued by Kaiba opening his mouth. This only made her more annoying, so Jem did her best to ignore it, as did Seto. This, however, took a little more force. He withdrew into his thoughts, becoming less aware of everything around him in turn. This caused him to momentarily forget to fixate on Pegasus, and naturally his eyes turned to the blonde. Kaiba watched as she ignored her sister, focusing on her food. His eyes stayed transfixed as he watched her toss some of her silky hair over her shoulder, then went about picking at her vegetables before moving on. Consciously, she would try to be a little rude around her father, but subconsciously she was the opposite. Kaiba watched as her fork slid through her teeth before she politely closed her mouth to chew, her focus switching between nothing and her food. It was, however, claimed for a moment when Pegasus set his glass down a bit more forcefully than was needed.

This also got Jude and Kaiba's attention, though the twins disregarded it. Kaiba, however, saw Pegasus fixed on him. He had seen him staring at Jem, and now stared him down to prevent it. Pegasus sat, his eyes narrowed as he gently swirled his wine over the table. Seeing his anger, the corners of Kaiba's mouth turned up the slightest bit, just enough to piss Pegasus off more. The two stared each other down for a moment before Pegasus said, "Jemma, are you done?"

This shut Effie up, the children glancing over at him. She was a bit surprised. As she finished chewing she followed her father's gaze. Turning back to him, she spoke without reservation. "Oh! Is the staring supposed to have taught me my lesson? Because if the staring is supposed to do it, then you're only proving that you're cold-hea-"

"Finish your meal," he said firmly, finally breaking to look at her. She raised her eyebrows as she turned back to focus on her food, ready to be away from all of this. "All of you." He turned to continue monitoring Kaiba, though he addressed her. "And Jemma, I want another session with you tomorrow. Be in my office by 9am. Kemo-"

Jem sighed before he responded, "Yes, Master Pegasus?"

"Be sure to tell the other men that I mean my home office here in the castle. Don't try to avoid this and pull that little San Francisco stunt again," he finished unhappily

"That was a good one, wasn't it?" she snickered as she finished.

"I enjoyed it," attested Jude, smiling at her as he still leaned over the table, done as well. "So what are you up to?" he provoked, implying that he wanted her and she knew it.

Jem tilted her head and declared, "I'm all yours."

The two started to push their chairs back and Pegasus demanded, "What are you two going to do?"

They settled for a moment and Jem leaned forward, pretending to think about it. "You know, I think we'll stay in the castle," she suggested as though it were a real answer or they had any choice.

Her twin naturally went along with it, nodding seriously. "Yes, I think that's a great idea."

"Well then it's a plan," she declared, and the two stood up.

Pegasus huffed but let it go knowing he had little control over what they did, but was comforted knowing that they were restricted to the castle.

With the daughter Kaiba showed interest in gone, Pegasus broke the gaze to ask his youngest, "Are you done, dearest? I have some business to attend to with our guest."

Effie compliantly nodded, only taking a last look at Kaiba as she finished her water. Quietly, she stood up, lovingly placing a hand on her father's shoulder as she passed.

Next Chapter: Mischief

"My Jemma is way out of your league. Besides, she hates people. She'd never bother with you."