***This one is another of my personal favorites. I guess I'm a sap.***


Ishizu fell asleep in her chair while Marik played with the baby. Ishizu had mentioned not getting a full night's sleep since her second trimester, and Bastet was already seven months old.

Marik rocked the baby to sleep and handed her to Bakura. "Here. Put her in her crib while I find a blanket to cover Ishizu."

Bakura shot Marik a disapproving scowl, but didn't risk waking either female by speaking. He took Bastet to her room. Seeing Bastet's nursery always made Bakura's chest feel tight. Ishizu painted the walls sky blue with white sponging in areas to look like clouds. Bakura himself painted a tree in the corner (after proper bribing from Marik). Glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to the ceiling and Bastet's mobile had suns and moons along with her crib-sheets. It reminded Bakura that Marik and his siblings spent years underground, and now they were trying to give the outside world they never had to one, little baby.

Bakura set Bastet in her crib. She stayed asleep. He leaned over and looked at her. She had Ishizu's black hair and Marik's vibrant eyes, but her nose and stubborn jaw were undeniably Seto Kaiba's.

Bakura smirked as he realized he was probably looking at the most obstinate child in the world, a dangerous blend of Kaiba and Ishtar genetics. She cooed in her sleep, but didn't cry.

Bakura leaned against the crib railing. "You know, once there was this thief who didn't have anybody and he grew up really pissed off. He tried to shove his foot right up the Pharaoh's ass but . . ."

Bakura shrugged. "Well, it didn't quite work the way he planned. Wasn't all bad, though, because he met this other guy who was just as angry, and they ended up getting along rather well. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're never going to have to worry about getting locked underground, or used as a sheet of paper, or having your home burned down. Nothing bad will happen to you – you'll skin your knees and your first goldfish will die, but nothing truly bad will happen to you or your mom ever because people thought I went ape-shit over my dead family members, but they haven't even seen the lengths I'd go through for living family. When me and Marik have a common goal you pretty much have to be the Holy Winged Dragon of Ra in order to stop us so . . . yeah, no one will ever mess with you."

He turned to leave before Marik wondered where he was; unfortunately, Marik already stood in the doorway.

"Goddammit," Bakura hissed when he saw Marik.

Marik held a blanket with one hand and wiped at his eyes with the other hand. When Bakura walked up to him, Marik kissed Bakura on the mouth and held him. "Bakura, I . . . love you."

It was still too soon to say it back, so Bakura pressed his lips as gentle and deliberate as he could against Marik's jugular, as if that action could carry his emotions to Marik's heart without repeating the words.

Marik grabbed Bakura's hand and led him back to the living room. When they got there, Ishizu stood waiting for them.

She held each side of Bakura's face and kissed his right temple. "Idiot, the baby monitor is on."

Bakura blinked for a second and looked at the little speaker near Ishizu's chair. "Oh goddammit."