AN: Okay, this is probably the last chapter. There will be an epilogue though.

Chapter 12: chüan ch'üan fu ying

Slowly opening his eyes, Seto blinked a few times and tried to figure out why it was so dark. The fact that he was wearing a jacket and had his face pressed against a book didn't bother him in the slightest. People who work so late they fall asleep on their papers are used to waking up like this, but they are usually rather surprised when the light has been turned off.

Sitting up, Seto rubbed his face and stretched. He felt absolutely disgusting, but sleeping at your desk did that to you, as a rule. The bonus, though, was that you could wake up early enough so that no one sees you looking like you just got up. Which you did. Tripping over his briefcase and another chair, Seto pulled back the blinds and winced at the sunlight streaming in the large glass window of his office.

"Ryou must have turned off the lights." Seto decided. "I wonder what time it is."

"Just after eight." A familiar voice informed Seto.

"Thank you, Mokuba. Mokuba?!"

"'Morning Seto." Mokuba smiled from the doorway.

"Morning, Seto." Tea repeated as she came up behind Mokuba with a cup of coffee.

"Tea? You're both here?"

"Yea. Sorry it took us so long." Tea shrugged and Seto took a step forward. "Don't look so surprised."

"What's wrong Seto?"

"Is this a…...... a trick?" Seto whispered. "If I…...... touch you, will you…...... disappear?"

"I shouldn't think so." Tea smiled.

"Oh my God." Seto whispered. "Oh my God!"

Running forward, Seto stopped inches from Mokuba and Tea. Bending down to look Mokuba in the eye, Seto reached a hand out and brushed Mokuba's bangs to the side.

"You're alive." Seto whispered, almost in disbelief. "You're really here."

"Oh, Seto!" Mokuba screamed as he threw himself at Seto, tears rolling down his face. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too." Seto whispered as he returned Mokuba's hug. "I missed both of you so much it hurt."

Smiling, Mokuba tried to stifle a yawn.

"Are you tired?" Tea asked. "I'm sorry."

"You can sleep on the couch, if you want." Seto offered and Mokuba nodded, his eyelids feeling heavier by the second. Stumbling over to the couch at the other side of the room, Mokuba lay down and was immediately asleep.

"Seto?" Tea asked. Turning his face from Mokuba's sleeping form, Seto turned to look at Tea. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Seto nodded. "You still haven't hugged me yet."

"You seemed a bit busy." Tea whispered but Seto's arms had already engulfed her in a huge hug.

"Tea, did I ever tell you that I loved you?"

"I…...... I don't remember." Tea admitted, her head buried in Seto's shoulder.

"Then let me tell you. I love you, Tea. I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"Tea?"

"Hmmm?"

"Marry me?"

"What?" Tea gasped, her eyes shooting open.

"Oh." Seto whispered, pulling away. He felt as if his rapidly mending heart had been ripped from his chest and shreded before his eyes. He was having trouble breathing because his throat was feeling tighter and tighter every second and his eyes were beginning to water; it was all he could do to keep from crying right in front of Tea. "Never mind. If that's how you feel…......"

"YES!" Tea cried, as she pulled Seto closer and kissed him on the lips. "Yes, yes, yes! Of course I'll marry you! How could you ever think I wouldn't ? I love you Seto."

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"Seto?" Mokuba called.

"Yea?" Seto replied, walking into Mokuba's room.

"Can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure, little brother."

"Do you love me?"

"Of course, I do, Mokuba."

"More than Tea?" Mokuba asked.

"What? Mokuba, no."

"So you love her more than me?"

"No, Mokuba. I love both of you the same amount, just differently. Is this about the wedding?"

"Well, sort of."

"Mokuba, no matter what, I will always be your brother."

"I know that!" Mokuba groaned. "I know that! But whenever Tea is around…...... I just feel…......"

"Left out? Oh, Mokuba, I'm sorry."

"No, don't bother. I'm just being selfish."

"No, Mokuba. You're right. I haven't been able to spend much time with you lately." Seto admitted before pausing for a minute. "Do you want to go for a trip?"

"With Tea?"

"No. Just us. Maybe over the summer, after the wedding and when things have settled down. Just you and me. We'll go where ever you want."

"Promise?"

"Promise." Seto smiled, before ruffling Mokuba's hair and turning the light out. Walking back into the living room, Seto noticed Tea was sitting on the couch, deep in thought.

"Hey."

"Hey. What are you doing up so late?"

"You're up too. What did Mokuba want?"

"Oh, nothing important. Just a big brother – little brother talk."

"Oh. I see. Seto?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you marrying me?"

"That's a stupid question. Because I love you, of course. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason." Tea shrugged. Sitting down next to her, Seto wrapped his arms around her waist and Tea pulled herself onto Seto's lap. "Seto, I'm pregnant."

There was a moment of silence. Frowning, Tea pressed her head against Seto's shoulder before looking back at Seto's face. It was a mixture of surprise, shock and worry.

"It's yours."


"Of course it's mine! Who's else would it be?" Seto asked.

"You weren't worried that I was cheating on you with someone else?"

"No. I was just worried that you wouldn't keep it."

"Of course I'll keep it! Why would you think I wouldn't?"

"I know the baby will destroy any chance of you becoming a dancer."

"Oh, Seto." Tea sighed, rolling her eyes.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I dunno. Maybe I'll get a teaching license and teach dance. Or maybe I can go to business school and get a job as a secretary. I'm still young, so I'm not suck for options."

There was another lapse of silence before Seto let out a sigh.

"I'm glad you aren't upset at me."

"Why would I be?"

"Well it is my fault."

"Only half your fault." Tea reminded him. "Besides, I want this baby."

"So do I. Uh, when did you find out?"

"When I was in Springfield."

"Springfield? You went to Illinois?"

"It was the first place that came into mind."

"You're so strange, Tea."

"Humph."

"But that's how I love you. You know, I never realized how much I loved you until Pegasus told me you were dead. I never knew."

"I know. I didn't know either."

AN: chüan ch'üan fu ying- to clasp firmly to the breast (to cherish something deeply)