Atem stared up into the sky, he could feel he was lying on the softest grass he'd even felt. The palm trees in the surrounding areas were as tall as the temples and provided the perfect amount of shade. He heard a sweet sounding sigh to his right and looked to see Seto lying next to him. Atem could see that he was very relaxed in this peaceful environment.

"Seto, how did we get here?"

"You don't remember?"

"No."

"We left early in the morning and rode all the way here."

"Just like when we were children." Atem said as he sat up and pulled Seto closer, "We should start coming here more often.

Atem woke up in his own room with his Queen asleep by his side. He began to get up to leave but he discovered his arm was secured, trapped, under his very pregnant wife. Pulling his arm gently he found that he wasn't going to escape that easy. Atem flopped back down and sighed. It had been many many days since Seto had spoken to him last. He had done all he could to prove that he was serious and being sincere but Seto wouldn't give him even a moment of his time, nor accept any of the gifts he'd attempted to give him.

"Can you not sleep?" Atem heard his Queen ask in a sleepy voice.

"I was only thinking."

"About what my love?"

"Nothing to worry yourself about."

"You've been lost in thought all day and now you can't sleep. What's troubling you?"

Atem remained silent as he continued to think about Seto. He was simply dumbfounded as to what Seto wanted since he'd done everything he could think of, he felt absolutely hopeless.

Seto was lying awake in bed, his whole body hurt. He couldn't do much but lay around since he'd grown a lot in the days that had passed, forty-nine to be precise. Seto took a deep breath, he felt as though every breath he took was a small victory. Akunadin had examined him again today and said from where the infant was positioned it was pushing greatly on his lungs stomach and bladder. Which explained why Seto could hardly breath, hardly eat and hardly and always having to relieve himself. Seto stopped leaving his room shortly after his last conversation with Atem, he didn't want to have any more run-ins with the Queen, he wanted to avoid Atem and he didn't want anyone to see his unhideable bump. Seto turn on his side as he felt a rough kick from within.

"Oh did you sleep well?" Seto asked his unborn child receiving a kick in response, "I'm glad you're well rested. I haven't slept at all. Just think the first part of your life all you're going to do nothing but sleep."

In the morning Seto felt worst than he did during the night, the kicking and the moving had a very frequent thing and it was driving Seto insane. One kick was so hard it sent him to his knees forcing him to crawl back to his bed. Isis had brought him his morning meal arriving just as he was settling back in his bed.

"Good Morning, Seto. How are you feeling?" she asked her voice was filled with concern.

"Rough night."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, of course." Seto responded grimacing at the food set before him.

"What's wrong?" Isis asked taking notice of the face Seto had made, "You haven't started feeling sick again have you?"

"No, I just don't have the appetite I once had." Seto gestured over to the opposite side of his bed. Where there were many meals with a bite or less taken out of each.

"Seto, you must eat."

"I know but I feel that if I do I'll burst."

Isis frowned. She didn't have any experience being with child but since Seto wasn't exactly built for child birthing, she worried what it was doing to his insides. She as well as the others had discussed how the infant would be extracted from Seto, and the only why that would be possible would be to cut him open. It had been done many times before but it was always a difficult procedure, and was only done as a last resort.

Isis felt sick herself just thinking about how they would have to with strain Seto, the amount of blood and everything that came along with it. Isis knew in her heart she'd never want to go through that herself much less see one of her comrades.

Seto took a bit of the meal Isis had brought to him, it was so good but he couldn't eat anymore.

"I'm worried about your health Seto. You're skin is looking paler than the day before. Maybe it would be in your best interest to deliver soon."

"You may be right. Let's have it done this afternoon." Seto told her, leaning back, taking a well needed breath.

"I'm sure he wasn't serious." Mahado told Isis when she announced the news to the others. "Won't the child die outside the….womb at this point?"

"I'm not sure but it's causing obvious wellness issues. He can hardly breathe or eat in his condition. He'll stave."

"It would be difficult to explain how a High Priest dies from starvation." Shad added, "The Pharaoh instructed us to listen to everything Seto says. This is no different. We need to do as he wishes. We need to inform Simon Muran so he can prep."

"This is happening much too soon!" Atem thought as he ran panicked as he searched the halls for Simon Muran, "Why is this happening?"

Finally he found Muran with Shad and Isis, "What's wrong Atem." Muran asked seeing the long of panic across his face.

"Labor, it's everywhere. It was all water and then blood then pain pain pain." Atem puffed.

"Oh no, we must hurry." Simon Muran said rushing down the hall towards Seto's room.

"No no my Queen she's in labor." Atem clarified.

Simon Muran followed Atem back to his room, "You two come along. I'm going to need your help."

"Where are they?" Mahado and Karim thought they heard Seto say. Every few moments he could hear Seto gasp for breath it was a very difficult thing to listen too.

"They'll be here soon." Karim insured Seto as he did everything to make Seto comfortable.

They'd been waiting for the others to return with Muran and in that time Seto was getting increasingly worse. His eyes were looking darker than they had ever. He was gasping for everything breath his skin was covered in sweat and he was in and out of consciousness. They feared anymore delay would kill Seto for sure.

Mahado grabbed the sharpest blade that was in the leather pouch, they brought with them, he moved closer to Seto. His eyes met Seto's as he removed the sheeting from Seto's body and revealed the large belly, stretched as far as it could possibly go.

"Karim secure his arms and legs," Mahado told Karim as we looked over the blade.

Karim shot up and looked at Mahado, "You don't plan to-"

"He can't breathe Karim. If we wait any longer he may die."

Karim wasn't a hundred percent sure he agreed with Mahado's hasty choice, especially since neither knew what to do or what to expect. Karim bond Seto's wrist, the entire time he was in a staring contest with the blue eyed priest, he never spoke only gasped for air.

Karim felt very nervous as he watched Mahado prepare to cut open their comrade, "We should wait for Muran."

"We can't." Mahado told him again looking at Seto's face to see a reaction, but there was none. His eyes were closed and his body limp, "He's asleep." Mahado told Karim, though it was still a bit of a question.

Karim checked and nodded.

Mahado pressed the blade against the taut skin, slicing it gently. A line of blood flowed from the cut making Mahado's hands begin to tremble. Karim alternated between watching Mahado regret what he started and making sure Seto was breathing.

Mahado cut a three inch opening, he was sure that was more than enough. Mahado pushed his hand inside feeling the warmth of Seto's insides, as a felt around for the offspring. His fingers brushed against something very textured insides, it felt like hair but covered with a thin sheet of slimy silk. Feeling the object more Mahado identified a neck and shoulders, and then he knew he found what he was looking for. He gently moved the child closer to its exit.

Karim noticed an especially deep breath come from Seto, which was a relief to see.

"Karim, I need a blanket and quickly." Mahado told him as he could just start to see, a bit an unusual fluid pour from the laceration.

Karim saw a blanket, beside the dismantled loom, and brought it to Mahado. Moments later a blood and a wax like coated infant was pulled free. Mahado tied off a long cored and cut off the remaining length before the infant was wrapped tightly, in the blanket. Karim and Mahado looked at each other, as the baby began to cry, both relieved the worst was over. Mahado stitched Seto's cut up, quickly and as neatly as possible.

"Is she alright?" Atem asked as he looked down at the unconscious sweaty woman. The room full of servants, who helped in the delivery slowly dispersed. The infant was wrapped in a blanket, as silent as the dead of night.

"She's just exhausted." Muran told him as he looked down at the infant's colorless face, "It must have been strangulation." Simon Muran handed the child off to a servant to be taken to be prepared for burial.

"It was a girl. It was for the best." Akunadin told the group.

"How could you say such a thing? The loss of a child no matter the gender is a tragedy." Isis snapped.

"Not when there are more than enough children running around. Besides it'll be simple to find a permanent fill in. We should pay Seto a visit, don't you agree Atem."

Atem stared blankly at his uncle. He wasn't sure what the old man knew but he was becoming very nervous.

"I'm sure Seto's not feeling up for visitors today." Shada said to the eldest priest.

"I'm sure he can manage." Akunadin said as he left the room. Atem was the first to follow, "I know what you did and what it caused. It's not something that can be known throughout the kingdom. With the current situation at hand it would be best for you to remove the child from Seto's charge and give it to the Queen."

"Seto would never allow that!"

"Are you not the Pharaoh?"

"I am."

Seto opened his eyes slowly when he heard the cries of a newborn.

"Let me-" Seto said tugging at his unneeded binds. Mahado untied him just as the door to the room opened.

Akunadin stood in the door way, Simon Muran, Atem, Isis and Shada all behind him. Akunadin approached the bed and looked at Seto's stitches.

"Akunadin, we didn't tell you because you're not known to be very understanding and accepting of different-"

"I knew all along." Akunadin said cutting Simon Muran off. He looked over a Karim, "What is it?"

"He's a boy."

"Well?" Akunadin said looking back at his nephew.

Atem looked very nervous as he approached Karim, "Shada. Isis. Please explain this to them."

"What's going on?" Mahado asked Atem directly.

"Isis and Shada will explain." Atem told him as he began to leave with the child.

"Where are you going?" Seto asked his voice gaining strength with every word, "ATEM!"

Atem stopped and handed off the infant to Muran. Muran left with the child knowing that a fight was brewing, "Seto, my Queen gave birth to a lifeless child. You did not. The kingdom needs an heir now and with the circumstances this is for the best way."

Seto fought through the pain and forced himself to sit up, "You're not going to use my child as a replacement."

"This is for the best Seto. We'll both get what we want this way."

"This is just more of what you want!"

"You wanted our child to be raised as the heir to the throne!"

"Yes, but not as a replacement!"

"You told me I needed a back up and that what you became!" Atem shouted back. He meant to say 'he' but the first word to form was 'you'. Atem's eye's immediately locked with Seto's; a look of sheer betrayal was displayed on his face and in his eyes.

"You promised."

"Seto, you know what I meant."

"Then why didn't you just say it? Or is that exactly what you meant. I'm just a back-up. You're son was just a replacement if anything happened."

Atem didn't know

"I'm sorry but I must order you all to act as though none of this even happened. Seto and my child will be raised to one day take my place. Simon Muran will explain that farther when he return." Atem said not looking any of them in the eye as he spoke, "This will also conclude what's left of our relationship, Seto."

"Atem." Seto called out as he sprang from his bed only to fall to the floor. Seto pulled himself towards Atem, "Atem! Please don't do this to me!" He pled as Atem disappeared behind the door, "YOU PROMISED ME!"

Isis leaned down beside Seto trying to console him the best she could but he pushed her away as he tried to stand himself up. The priest watched Seto go from pure determination to a completely emotional wreck.

No one made a move towards Seto after he pushed Isis away for a second time. They didn't know what to do or what to say. Karim and Mahado had no clue was about to happen when everyone showed up. Shada and Isis had attempted to get to Seto's room before the others but something forced them to remain behind the eldest priest.

"Get out all of you." Seto told them, his voice cold as the desert nights.

The four quickly complied with his demand though he didn't want to leave him in his current state. Mahado quickly headed towards the Pharaoh's chambers, Karim followed. Isis and Shada stood outside Seto's room; they could hear him crying inside.

"Mahado, what are you planning on doing?" Karim asked his friend.

"I've been here just as long as Seto has. I don't fear speaking to Atem the way we would any normal person."

"With everything that's happened do you think that's wise? Atem didn't do or say any of those things to hurt Seto."

"But it obviously still did just the same." Mahado said clenching his fist as he walked faster, "I never saw someone's heart break before. I'm sure you felt it as well." There was a moment of silence as they walked before Mahado spoke again, "I can't believe he'd do that and in front of us as well."

Mahado banged hard on the Pharaoh's chamber doors. Simon Muran answer.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"I've come to retrieve Seto's son." Mahado said loudly.

"Mahado!" Muran snapped he stepped out of the room as he closed the doors, "We've already given the Queen the child. She doesn't know the differences."

"There are laws in place protecting a mother and child, to prevent situations like this from occurring." Mahado informed him, "Are the Pharaoh's Priests not expected to follow the laws?"

"Of course."

"So then we are protected by it! No one can take a child from its mother without the mother and the father in agreement. Seto being the birth mother of that child did not give his consent to have his child removed from his charge. Atem can't be the soul decider."

Simon Muran nodded in agreement, "Be that as it may it won't change anything. Atem is Pharaoh only what he wants he gets despite how unpredictable they can be."

"What brought everyone to Seto's room?"

"When the child was born dead, Akunadin said that it would be easy to find an infant to find a permanent fill in. Then he said that we all needed to pay Seto a visit and the problem would be solved. Do to the state Seto was in we all rushed over to discover that you'd already delivered the child. We were all unaware that Akunadin knew of Seto's condition."

"Something must have happened for Atem to behave so coldly and to be influence my Akunadin so easily" Karim said

"It's probably." Simon Muran told the two, "Akunadin is Aknamkanon brother and Atem only blood relative until now. It's only nature for him to be influenced. The only thing we can do now is to keep Seto's mind off it all."

"Maybe he'll just forget about it." Mahado told the old man, sarcastically. Mahado left the pair angrier than he had been before. He didn't understand how anyone could do that to the person they supposedly love. He knew what love felt like. He knew what heartbreak looked like. He never wanted anyone to feel the way he had made his student, Mana, feel when he had rejected her feels.