Emily gave Maximillion a look at the amount of bags that appeared in his room, after breakfast when she'd mentioned she needed clothes since all her clothes were now in Las Vegas, and even more frustrating was the fact her wallet was also in Las Vegas in her suitcase. So to Maximillion's great pleasure he had to foot the bill, Emily raised an eyebrow when she saw a couple of dresses similar to her ruined one from last night.

"I just needed something for today Maximillion not for the next year, I'm only staying a few weeks." Emily chided with little ire when her finger touched something soft and silky, Emily had to stop from nuzzling it, it was purple most of the items were purple or other colors Emily favored.

"You never know darling I may just tempt you to stay longer."

Emily looked over her shoulder at that, "I can't tell if you're teasing me or if that is a hint."

Maximillion wrapped his arms around her from behind, Emily almost stopped the hum that escaped her.

"Would it be such a bad thing if i wasn't teasing, let's be honest Emily, a ten-hour commute does make me want to lure you to my side and I very much enjoy having you close." Maximillion said lightly.

Emily leaned back against him enjoying the warm he radiated against her back, if she was honest it was more than tempting but doubt and fear nipped at her, Emily turned in his grasp to face him.

"What if we don't suit or what if you hate the way I fold my clothes or something strange like that, living together and dating are two different beasts."

Maximillion nuzzled the top of the darling woman's head, her arms had wrapped around his neck lightly, he craved how well she just fit against him he'd missed her terribly in their time apart, while Emily brought up a valid point he was determined to soothe her worries.

"We don't need to make a choice now but simply think on it, you have time and there is no rush."

Emily felt her chest tighten there it was again no pressure, no demanding just an open invitation to follow the trail Maximillion left for her at her own pace by her own choice. Emily pressed her face against him, "I feel bad that you have to get on a plane again."

Maximilian waved it off telling her not to worry.

Emily wondered if not worrying about the cost of plane travel was something the Mega-Rich did often, after finding something to wear and staving off Maximillion's helping hands they once again travelled to the airport to take his private plane to Las Vegas.

Emily turned to Maximillion in her seat next to them as they flew to Las vegas, if it wasn't for the fact her wallet was in her suitcase Emily honestly would have left it behind, Maximilian seemed determined to insure she wanted for nothing judging by the slew of clothes he'd had brought to her, and the dainty sparkly charm bracelet his was currently sliding onto her wrist with a playful smile. Emily held back the squeal barely contained delight, this reason was why she'd set the budget Maximillion's gifts were breathtaking.

"Please tell me there isn't a storage unit of 'not in the budget gifts'." Emily asked, her face flushed.

"I promise to not overwhelm you all at once." Maximilian teased Emily... Or was he serious?

Emily slid her hands into his larger ones, "Maximillion, I love everything you have done for me and honestly I'll probably never tell you to stop, but just know I'd be just as happy with a lazy day watching movies with you and microwave popcorn, you don't have to do so much for me."

Maximilian kissed her slowly before he answered, "Darling trust me when I say I want to give you the stars themselves, and I'm glad to know you won't stop me from lavishing you with the affection you deserve."

They barely refrained from going back to the bed on the plane as they kissed slowly, Emily didn't want to meet his mother afterwards looking like a sex kitten, and the time on the plane was limited. They talked about serious things and not serious things, Maximillion told her today was the only day this week he could afford to not be at Industrial Illusions. Emily was fine with that she didn't expect him to drop everything for her.

"Would you care to join me for lunch tomorrow at Industrial Illusions?" Maximillion asked, Emily agreed she was honestly curious as to what industrial illusions looked like.

Also there was the subtle question Maximillion had put to her, Emily moving here made the most sense, Maximillion had nothing to cause him to relocate to Domino City, his company was here and she was pretty sure Maximillion had no desire to live so close to Seto Kaiba. Emily on the other hand really didn't have anything holding her to Domino City anymore, her relationship with Kaiba was in a strange gray area. She had no living family, Emily didn't count her father and his family, friends were non-existent, the only thing keeping Emily in Domino City was her job, but she didn't feel that was enough to keep her in Domino City really. But Emily also was hesitant to just move across the ocean, Emily felt that small kernel of doubt in her head whispering things to her making her hesitate.

Emily jumped when Maximillion pressed a kiss to her nose, breaking her from her silent pondering, he raised a silvery brow at her, "Just thinking." Emily assured Maximillion kissing him back trying to distract him; she didn't want to talk about it, at least not yet.

They landed once again in Las Vegas then got into a car to be driven to Eloise's penthouse, surprisingly Maximillion did not get out with Emily when they arrived.

"I have some business to attend to before I see mother, I shall return to you shortly."Maximillion said, pressing a warm kiss to their clasped hands and Emily's lips before he watched her being escorted into the building by one of his hired help then had the driver leave.

Maximillion waited as the luxury car drove for a period of time, he had no doubt his mother would be more than glad to have Emily all to herself, the magic of the Las Vegas Strip honestly wasn't very entertaining for him, after travelling the world and seeing sights, most men would never even imagine it was… tame.

Maximillion stepped out of the car into a private parking garage. He waited for the driver to park and the man followed behind Maximillion at the ready in case he was needed, Maximillion came to a service elevator with a keypad for access and entered in a code he'd been given this morning before Emily woke. He had never needed to come here but recent events made this trip necessary, the elevator opened up to a luxurious hallway and Maximillion walked a hallway he hadn't ventured down in ages, using another pin code to enter a locked door. Maximillion told his guard to wait outside for him, he stepped in to a sleek office with a glass desk, an onyx black couch on one side, a well-stocked mini bar and a two-way mirror looking down at the casino floor of his brother Tiberuis' pride and joy 'The Labyrinth' a casino that him and their father had built it was one of three casino's Tiberuis currently had ownership of, Maximillion looked to his left to see a large family portrait of the Pegasus family. Maximillion could tell it was outdated because Tiberuius' second wife was portrayed; it had been commissioned towards the beginning of his brother's second marriage. Maximillion considered the portrait as he waited even though the lights of the casino floor flashed Maximillion barely heard anything, no doubt Tiberuis had this room made to muffle the noise of the slot machines below considerably.

The door suddenly swung open and Maximillion turned his head to see his brother walk in looking more than a little irritated, Maximillion hadn't told him he was coming and Maximillion knew Tiberuis hated anyone in his personal office without his knowledge or invite it was a quality they shared... and Maximillion was willing to gamble Tiberius didn't invite many people in here if it housed such a dated family photo.

"What are you doing here Maximillion, no one has the code for my office not even mother." Tiberius snapped walking to stand near his desk facing Maximillion still in front of the family portrait.

Maximillion smirked at Tiberius, "You forget who I am little brother finding a measly little pin code for your door is child's play, don't worry I didn't go through your desk to find your Diary."

"Then get the hell out or talk." Tiberuis was irritated to say the least no one was allowed in here, all social decorum went out the door at this intrusion.

"Did you think I would let last night go without a word, My Dear Emily may not have realized your hand in last night's sudden onslaught of job offers or the insult you throw at her with them."

Tiberuis scoffed, "That's what this is about, I thought she'd appreciate my finding her new work."

"You know brother if you put this much effort into fixing your relationship with Sophie, you might be able to see your daughter beyond what mother passes on to you."

Tiberuis physically flinched, his face went tight, he could see the smiling woman in the portrait behind Maximillion, but his older brother wasn't done.

"You have a terrible habit of destroying anything good around you so I'll make this clear, my choice for a companion is my business commentary from the peanut gallery that you reside in will not be tolerated, if you can't say anything polite to Emily then you will say nothing. Otherwise I will find a way to convince Sophie to move to California and any chance you have at repairing the marriage you failed, or being a father to the daughter you are also failing will disappear, don't forget I am very aware that Sophie has nothing significant keeping her here. All those she holds dear live in California and you know our mother will follow Sophie so as to keep a relationship with her beloved granddaughter, and thus you my pitiful brother will be completely alone. Only the flashing bulbs of Las Vegas will give you any light in this sad excuse you call a life." Maximillion almost felt compassion when he saw the stark fear cross Tiberuis' face.

"This is also not up for negotiation; you have been warned." With that Maximillion turned and left his younger brother alone with his thoughts and a portrait of when he used to be happily married.

.

Emily laughed at the photo Eloise showed her it was of Maximillion and his brother when they were children, both boys were glaring at each other covered in scuff marks from fighting held by the back of their shirts by the late Alexander Pegasus. Emily now knew that both men had gotten their height from their mother, their father had been an average height of 5'8, it was almost comical to see the family photos of all four Pegasus' Eloise wore heels in almost all of them making her tower over her husband even more, and yet the smiling man whose face was similar to Maximillion didn't seem to mind.

"Yes, Maximillion and Tiberius' relationship has swung like a pendulum back and forth between despising and loving each other all their life." Eloise said fondly, turning to another page in her large photo album.

"Dear God she pulled those out."

Emily jumped and turned to see Maximillion had arrived he'd been gone for over an hour now, Emily giggled at the face he was pulling when Eloise teasingly held up a photo, a pair of toddlers naked in the bathtub, the older woman didn't seem to mind when Maximillion snatched the photo and album from her and returned it do its place on the bookshelf.

"How was business." Eloise asked, sipping from a glass of water.

Maximillion's hands found their way to Emily's shoulders as he stood behind her, Emily hummed in delight when he started kneading them gently through her shirt.

"Tedious, hopefully this will be the last time I need to address it, but now that it is done we must leave I have work tomorrow

Eloise scowled at her eldest son, "But you have only just arrived why not just stay the night and leave early tomorrow morning."

"And give you time to find a way to keep my heart's desire captive here, I shall pass but it has been lovely to see you mother."

Emily felt her heart flop around in her chest, at that statement it sounded pretty close to the love word to her.

Eloise didn't look terribly offended at the accusation as she said her goodbyes to them, Emily's face was flushed and she kept going over what he had said. Emily looked up shyly in the elevator when Maximillion tilted her face up to look at him, one eyebrow raised in question that easy smile on his lips.

"I'll talk to you on the plane." Emily said leaning into him easily enough, a pointed look to the bodyguard standing in front of them. Maximillion may be used to the bodyguards but Emily wasn't and Maximillion didn't press her simply wrapped her arm around his as they walked to the car.

Once they were safely on the plane and travelling down the runway Emily turned to Maximillion, "Heart's Desire?"

Maximillion held one of her hands lightly, "Does that endearment bother you?"

Emily was blushing as she shook her head, "No, I liked it." Emily said shyly.

Maximillion pulled her from her seat to sit across his lap, "Is it so hard to imagine that I adore, cherish and love you terribly."

There it was the 'L' word Emily had been struggling not to say for fear of being wrong, "I still think you are insane for wanting me," Emily gathered up all her courage, "And I love you for it."

The rest of the flight was spent simply cuddling with each other, tender words and kisses, it was intimate without being sexual, and Emily enjoyed it. Emily appreciated that the moment between them was private and simple, and not extravagant, when they got back to Maximillion's estate in time for dinner he gave her another gift after a lovely meal.

"This particular gift is the main reason for pushing to end our 'budget' sooner, I simply didn't feel right withholding it from you."

They were both already dressed for bed when Maximillion came from his large closet with a medium cardboard box, which he set on a table situated near the large windows, Emily padded over surprised at the condition of the box it looked like it was about to fall apart and had been repaired haphazardly with duct tape. Emily looked at Maximillion in confusion from his position behind her, he wasn't wearing his easy smile Emily opened the lid of the cardboard box and looked inside. At first she didn't know what she was looking at, the smell of stale air and decay wafted up at Emily, old papers, a stuffed animal missing it's head, ballet slippers well worn and splitting at the seams, a knitted scarf of a deep purple and green, and a thin photo album. Memories began to creep forward the more Emily starred at the scarf… a scarf she remembered her mom wrapping around her neck as a birthday present. Emily took another look at the stuffed animal it used to be a pristine white but age and lack of care yellowed it, a black waist coat Emily could vaguely see in her mind's eye Sir Shermin's head black button eyes and smiling thread face before her father had ripped his head off screaming in her face to grow up. With shaking hands Emily picked up the photo album it's binding's creaked when she opened it, and a plethora of photos stared at Emily, many of them were of her as a small child but a few had pictures of her father and even her mother, pictures that seemed to catalogue her mother's whole life from pregnancy all the way up until her mother started avoiding camera's after her body began to turn against her.

Maximillion held Emily from behind, this particular box had cost him well over the budget Emily had set, Croquet had found that Amelia Jackson hadn't been buried but cremated and her ashes had been put into the possession of her husband and the trail of Amelia's remains had vanished into thin air. There was no family grave, or documentation indicating what Mr. Jackson had done with his late wife's remains, so Maximillion unwilling to leave it a mystery for his beloved Emily had carefully placed a phone call. Thankfully he had gotten Mr. Jackson's current wife Kou a woman who had been surprising polite and kind when Maximillion had stated the reason for his phone call, the woman had been willing to mail all the possessions her husband still owned of his previous marriage after she had quietly informed Maximillion that her husband in a drunken rage after seeing Emily again all those years ago had tossed Amelia Jackson's ashes in the garbage. This box was all the woman had been able to save from her husband's tirade, unfortunately before that could happen Maximillion received a phone call a few days after talking to Mrs. Jackson, Mr. Jackson had found out about what his wife intended to do. Suddenly what Maximillion had been about to receive for the price of shipping had suddenly cost him a lot more, so he'd sent someone to personally collect said box and to make sure Maximillion wasn't being scammed by Mr. Jackson, as well as a papers to insure Mr. Jackson couldn't tell the press about the deal they had just made unless he wanted to be sued for everything he was worth.

Emily set the album down and closed the box, her face felt hot and a lot of conflicting emotions squirmed in her chest.

"Emily… I am sorry to say there isn't a burial site for your mother." Maximillion really didn't want to tell Emily that, it would hurt her he knew it, but not telling her something so important felt like a lie. "Your mother was cremated; your father didn't keep her ashes… this box only survived because of his current wife saving it."

Maximillion felt his heart crack when Emily's lip began to quiver, Maximillion silently cursed the man as he held his beloved while she silently cried, slowly her shoulders began to quake as she struggled to stem the flow of emotions.

That night Emily fell asleep snuggled against Maximillion after she sobbed like a baby, and the man hadn't minded at all, just rubbed her back and gave her words of love and affection. Maximillion hadn't even flinched when Emily had pulled away to thank him and a string of snot to stretch between them, Emily had been beyond mortified Maximillion had both winched then laughed.

.

Emily sat on a sunny window seat the next morning Maximillion had left for Industrial illusions this morning, and Emily was left to her own devices Maximillion was more than understanding when Emily asked if she could take a rain check on their lunch today, he didn't protest or argue when Emily said she needed some time to sort things out today. Emily went back and forth between going through the box of memories and honestly crying silently. She was glad she had this time to herself Emily didn't want to keep crying on Maximillion she wasn't a toddler, and this gave her time to collect herself and put things to rest within her heart. Emily went through the papers in the box some of them were more recent in others, Emily had a suspicion Maximillion had included some of these because she'd doubted her father would have kept documentation of her mother's condition towards the end of her life in such pristine condition judging by the other papers in the box. Emily now knew her mother had been alone in the hospital before she died, that had been a bitter pill to swallow as well as knowing how her father had disposed of her mother's ashes, Emily had to press Maximillion for that tidbit of information. It had been clear he was trying to soften the pain for her as much as he could and Emily loved the man for it, but she had needed to know. Some of the papers in the box where childhood drawings Emily had made, others were infinitely more precious such as the letter Amelia Jackson had written a few days before her death while she was in the hospital.

Hey Baby Girl,

Its looking like Mommy won't be coming home, Daddy says you're doing well in school I hope you forgive me but I told Daddy not to bring you here… I don't want your last memory of me to be strapped to machines and coughing up nasty stuff. I love you so much I miss you so much, I want you to live your life and be so happy, I wish I could be there to see it but that just isn't whats going to happen. Emily I want you to know wherever you are mommy is proud of you, mommy loves you so much, I feel like I should say more or write a prettier letter but all I can think of is telling you how happy I was when I heard your heart beat for the first time, how happy I was to see your first smile, and how happy you make me, and how I love you with all my heart.

Love Mommy.

Emily had chewed her lip for a while after reading that, finally the answer to why she'd never seen her mother after she went to the hospital was answered. This box answered more than a few questions she'd asked over and over in her life, but it came with mixed feelings. It reminded her the warmth of her mother's love… but also the fear of her father's anger, finally Emily picked through the box keeping only a scarce few photos of Emily's mother, the best one in Emily's mind was when she was heavily pregnant and smiling happily holding up a sonogram. Emily left Sir Shermin in the box she'd found his detached head at the bottom, she could have repaired him but he represented both good and bad, safety and peril. As precious and needed as Sir Shermin had been in childhood and adolescence, adulthood he belonged in memory where Emily could no longer hide behind him in times of trouble. Emily kept the old ballet slippers which she now remembered belonged to her mother, Emily had honestly forgotten Amelia had also taken ballet, she kept her mother's final letter and the child's scarf. The rest she packed up neatly in the box then tossed it in the trash, Emily resolute in her choice.

..

Emily spent the next couple of weeks enjoying everything, Maximillion and Emily would go days with just simple touches, nothing sexually before suddenly unable to keep their hands off each other, he showed her Industrial Illusions as well as leaving hints on potential places of employment not directly a part of II after Emily mentioned she was unsure about working for him when they were intimate with each other. Gretchen, Gabby and Yuki found out Emily was in town Emily was fairly certain Maximillion had a hand in that because when Emily wasn't with him she was being dragged around to the best places to be by the trio… and Emily loved every second of it. They all went to the beach, movies, and shopping often they seemed just as determined as Maximillion to tempt her to stay.

Eloise liked to just drop by often much to Maximillion's irritation because it seemed to also be when he was about to ravish Emily in some room or on some surface, then the doorbell would ring. Maximillion lavished Emily with gifts which Emily found out he'd bought well before the deal was complete but he simply held onto until the requirements she had set originally were no more, and not all of the over budget gifts were store bought. More than a few were still handmade by him but the materials he'd bought were of higher quality.

Emily felt so comfortable here some days she'd just lounge next to Maximillion while he worked others she would go off on her own, and he'd let her Maximillion never forced her to stay by his side like a pet. Emily was fairly confident she'd end up moving here but something still held her back that 'what if' in her head was killing her. What if Maximillion found living with her to be annoying, was less than a month enough time to know for sure? The last day before Emily was loaded up onto a plane to leave she spent it almost clinging to Maximillion she wanted to stay, but fear held her back every time she tried to say the words they got stuck finally Emily ended up having a mild panic attack the last time. After Maximillion helped to calm down he asked her a simple question, "Do you need more time my love?"

As Maximillion let her go to get on the plane the next morning they kissed fiercely and a soft promise on Emily's lips he'd see her soon.

…

Ok I know it has been a little while I've honestly had this chapter for a while but wanted to tweak some parts that honestly felt forced, and this is a shorter chapter than normal but I feel this is a good spot to stop this chapter. Sorry I have been on the quiet side that collage life has me busy, comments are also loved and I hope everyone is staying happy and safe.