Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-G-Oh!

An Azureshipping Fanfic.

Forcibly Wedded: The Billionaire's Convenient Wife.

Chapter Twenty-One.

It was late in the afternoon when Anzu sent off an email to Dalton's creative department. The advertisement campaign for Vincentia Wines was a major deal. She couldn't screw this up.

Rolling her shoulders, she reached for her coffee, and thought about how she wanted to promote the ad. A few ideas jumped out at her, and she made a note to contact Sydney Greene in production. The woman was an artistic genius.

Draining her cup, Anzu made her way into the kitchen. She considered a light snack and decided against it. Dinner was only a few hours away.

She met Jeannette, in her usual spot behind the counter, dicing plump sweet peppers and lanky stalks of celery.

Picking up the pot, she poured coffee, considered the woman who ran the household. Jeannette was a fearsome woman. Her thin mouth was a hard line, her cheeks sunken in, her eyes strikingly cold. She was attractive in her youth, with glossy black hair and a wide smile. Her looks hadn't faded, Anzu thought, only weathered by time.

Jeanette glanced up and over to her, her hair tightly pulled back and her eyebrows creased. "Is there something you wanted, Mrs. Kaiba?"

Her voice was perfectly prim. A servant addressing her mistress. It was infuriating.

"Yeah." Anzu sipped fresh coffee. "Listen, we don't have to be friends or even acquaintances. Seto trusts you. You're his mother in every way that counts. I'm the one whose intruding. I get that." She set the cup down carefully. "You hate the sight of me. And that's fine. I'm not looking for approval or even a goddamn pat on the back."

"The what is it you want?" Jeannette interrupted, her tone deceptively mild. "I haven't exactly went out of my way to welcome you into this house. Do you wish for me to leave?"

"Of course not!" Anzu snapped, insulted. "I only want us to reach an understanding. I'm not here to do wicked deeds or turn Seto against you. I would never do that."

"I know." Jeanette admitted, and dug out a bowl from the cupboard. She dumped the peppers and celery. "I thought you were like your sister. Scheming, greedy, manipulative. The worst kind of female."

She started on the onions, the fresh rosemary. "You proved me wrong on all accounts," she continued without skipping a beat. "You are devoted to Elian. That little boy is your world and you'd never do anything to hurt him. You are also in love with Mr. Kaiba."

"Oh. You've gone pale, my dear." Jeannette observed, laughter in her voice. "Sit down before you take a spill on the floor." She guided Anzu into a chair. "I maybe an old woman going deaf in one ear, but my eyes are working just fine."

Shaking her head, Anzu had the strongest urge for a cold beer. Or maybe a fifth of scotch. "You're a strange woman, Jeanette. I don't understand you at all."

Would she ever? Anzu wondered, and reached for her abandoned coffee. The slightly bitter taste so like the older woman behind the counter.

"Will you tell him?" Jeannette inquired.

"Yes." She'd obviously been thinking about it. "And the truth is, I'm terrified. Not of rejection, no. I'm scared his feelings for me hasn't changed. Our marriage isn't exactly a love match, you know."

"Most love stories starts off with the lead characters hating each other. There's almost always a happy ending."

"Almost," Anzu repeated, and thought, she'd never hated a word more.

Later, considerably later, when the candlelight had gone soft, Anzu reached for Seto's hand.

"There's something I need to say to you. It's sort of important."

"Hmm? What is it?" His eyes were dark and deeply blue. And they watched her closely. "Did something happen today?"

"Jeanette and I talked. We called a truce, you could say, and I think we're well on our way to becoming good friends."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Yeah, well, there's something else." She let go of his hand, walked to the pretty vase stuffed with wild blooms. "When I first met you I disliked you intensely. You were rude, spiteful and too damn attractive."

"And now?"

"Now? I happen to still think you're rude." Her lips formed a slow smile. "And still very attractive. It's been ten months, hasn't it, since we got married? Feels longer."

Seto's eyes were blue fire. "Are you getting bored? Tired of being a wife. A mother?"

Insulted, Anzu frowned furiously. "Is that your perception of me. A flighty slip of a girl playing house?" She threw her hands in the air, frustrated. "You son of a bitch. I can't believe I was foolish enough to fall in love with you. And what are you grinning at?" she demanded.

"You. You just said you loved me." He pulled her into his arms, nuzzled her neck. "I've finally gotten the words out of you."

Now Anzu scowled. "You're treating it like a victory. That wasn't supposed to happen."

Seto leaned away. "Then tell me."

"I was going to say it in a real careless manner. Kind of like a man." She sighed. "That would have given you a shock."

"It certainly would have. I think I'd like to hear your impression, but I prefer this way. It's exactly you."

"Just don't say thank you." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'll piss me off further and it's awfully tacky," Anzu added, wrinkling her nose.

"You have a deal. So what should I say?"

Say you love me back. "You don't have to say anything. Nothing at all." She wrapped her arms around him, burrowed in. "Because I just wanted you to know."

It was a dream. A wonderful dream where birdsong and lush green fields were pleasantly sweet and full of fun.

Sitting on the silly polka dot blanket, under the grand elegance of an oak, Anzu wished she never woke.

She wanted to stay like this, in this breezy place where the complications of life couldn't touch her. Couldn't invade her mind and corrupt her thoughts.

"Enjoying yourself?"

"Oh yeah." She inhaled deeply, sighed happily. "It's a great place, a bit whimsical. I like it."

"So do I." Seto stared at the puddle of ruby red dahlias. "This was my mother's favorite spot. She would bring Mokuba and I whenever she could."

"I'm surprised we're the only ones. A place like this was created for families."

"Well, there was a time when it was." He smiled at her. "Now it's private property."

"You love to own everything," She muttered, and giggled when he poked her side. "I hear Natsuki is moving to New York. Jun told me yesterday when we met at Sheyna's. I'm glad she's going forward, picking up the pieces."

"She deserves to be happy. I imagine she's set to take over her mother's small but profitable business."

"The Art gallery isn't so small. Well, not compared to the one here in Sydney. She'll do fine. Besides, Jun is with her. Think he'll finally make a move?"

"A move where?"

Anzu rolled her eyes. "You're telling me you've never noticed." When he only stared, she bit the inside of her cheek. "Okay. Jun thinks Natsuki is one smoking hot babe."

He looked appalled. "They're cousins."

"Hey, remember? Jun is adopted. There's no blood relation between those two. He's very protective of her. I think it's sweet."

"Want my two cents?"

"No. No," she repeated when his eyes dared to challenge. "You'll ruin the moment. He's so in love with her. Probably been since they were kids. Kind of sad, really, since she had only eyes for Mokuba."

"Mokuba didn't love her enough. Or she loved Mokuba too much. I can't tell anymore." Those lake-blue eyes seemed to be looking through her. Then they were pinned on hers and she shivered from the intensity. "I've never said I'm sorry."

"For…?"

"For heaping all the blame on your sister. I refused to see it since he was my little brother and I adored him." He reached for her hand now. "Forgive me?"

"Maybe. I think you need to grovel some more." She laughed when he caught her to him, his face buried in her hair. "This could work."

Seto chuckled, held tighter. "God, I love you so much."

Her breath simply left her, and her hands slid from his shoulders weakly. "What," Anzu asked. "did you just say?"

The laughter had died from his eyes and his scowl was black. She might've glimpsed panic if she hadn't been stunned senseless.

"You didn't want me to say anything," he began, furious with himself. "I was going to tell you — I wanted to tell you, but you didn't want to hear it."

"So it's my fault?" she whispered.

"You made me fall in love with you. I didn't want to. God knows it would have been better if I didn't. But I did. And I don't regret it for a second."

"I didn't want to fall in love with you either." Her laugh was watery and sweet. "You were always so detached, so damn overbearing. I thought it was impossible for you to feel."

Anzu linked their fingers, smiled up at him. And again, it was sweet. "Then I saw you with Elian, and I forgot I was supposed to hate you."

Seto brought her hand to his lips. "I can't offer you flowery phrases or ornate expressions."

"Give it a try. Amuse me." Her eyes gleamed mischievously. "I'm waiting."

"I must love you outrageously." He bit her knuckle. "Fine. Here's one: Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell."

Anzu doubled over with laughter. "That's perfect. I couldn't have said it better. Joan Crawford, right?"

"Right." He tucked a loose strand behind her ear. "I like you best when you're smiling. When you're annoyed with me, when you're naked."

"You had to throw that in there."

"I'm a man." Was his defense. "And I like being here with you. Only you."

Anzu smiled shyly. "So what should we do now? My suggestion, you give me a big kiss."

He leaned forward, whispered something in her ear. And her eyes went wide. "Or we could do that. Yeah, let's do that." They grabbed at each other, tumbled on the silly polka dot blanket. Their laughter bright and joyous.

A word from lady dolce.

Oh, man. It's been so long. Let me just say this story is about to end. Next chapter, actually. So thanks everyone for staying around.

Please send me a review.