Disclaimer: Not in this lifetime will I own YGO, maybe when I'm reincarnated. ^___~

A/N: I'd like to thank you all for reviewing. It's great to know that there are still true Yugi/Tea fans out there. Give yourself a hug and keep this pairing strong in your heart! Yugi/Tea will prevail! We will not settle for anything less *cough* Marik/Tea *cough* Ra, that pairing needs to burn.......

Title: Christmas in my Hometown

For Tea, snow had to be the best part about winter. Unlike rain, which brought on a gloomy feeling, snow shed comfort and joy....if there ever were such feelings to express during a snowfall. As Tea rested her body against a mound of snow to make an angel, Yugi only watched from the porch, where he sat with one hand holding a cup of hot chocolate. 'She's already an angel...'

They had at least been out there for two hours, but Tea showed no signs of drowsiness. He surrendered to the cold after a good hour, declaring Tea the title of Snow Queen, though he knew that if he had ducked on that last snowball she threw, he could have made a comeback. He sighed and looked down at his hot chocolate, which seemed to have surrendered to the cold too.

"Isn't this so exciting!" Tea sat next to him, folding her arms together to keep warm.

"Woo-hoo..."

"Such enthusiasm," she raised an eyebrow, "you're not upset about before, right?"

He put his cup down. "No, it was just a game..."

"...that you didn't win." Tea added, "and the King of Games hates losing."

"Once again, that was Yami's title." he turned away from her, "this is Yugi you're talking to."

"Listen," she tilted his chin toward her, "who helped Yami win most of those duels?"

"Me, but-"

She put a finger to his lips and leaned forward, "that's evidence enough. You deserve that title."

Being so close to Tea left Yugi speechless.

"Did anyone tell you that you look so cute when you blush?"

"I'm not.." He stopped, feeling the heat flesh out around his cheeks.

She laughed. "It's good to be back..."

"About that," he cleared his throat, "you really didn't explain why you came back.."

Her eyes lowered. "Your words.....they really knocked some sense into me."

"So," he bit his lip, "is the old Tea here to stay?"

"Yes," she nodded and hugged him tightly. "Thank.."

She looked away from him and started looking around.

"What's wrong?"

She stood up, "I could have sworn I heard my name......."

Just as she breathed those words, Joey and Mai appeared, standing happily at the back gate.

"Hope we're interrupting," he put a hand around Mai's shoulders.

"Oh, you're not inter-" Tea shook her head irritably, "what!?"

Joey only laughed as he nudged Yugi playfully. "What's up?"

"You tell me, friend."

"Nothing much," Joey looked at Mai, "anything new?"

She shook her head and looked over to Tea, "hey, aren't you supposed to be back in NY?"

"I changed my mind," she whispered, without looking at Yugi.

"So, you're staying in Domino?"

As soon as Tea nodded, Mai squealed and brought Tea into a hug.

"Be honest," Joey smirked, "Kaiba drove you nuts, right?"

She shook her head. "He isn't as bad as you claim."

"Oh yeah," he frowned, "so you're saying that calling me a dog isn't bad?"

"I'm not getting into that," she looked away from him, "that's between you and Kaiba."

Joey was ready to argue that statement when Mai elbowed him in the ribs.

"So, when are you going back to Kaiba Corps?"

Relieved that Mai changed the subject, she answered, "I'm not."

"Really?" Joey and Mai exclaimed in unison.

"Yup," Tea put a hand on Yugi's shoulder, "I'm too homesick."

"I can't believe it," Mai whispered, still shocked. "This is great."

"Yeah," Joey made a fist, "who needs that jerk!"

"Who exactly are you addressing, Wheeler?"

Joey dropped his fist, knowing exactly whose voice it was before turning around. Kaiba, who adorned his Battle City outfit, was accompanied by two bodyguards, who carried the same empty expression as their boss. Yugi, who was also shocked by his entrance, knew exactly why he had come. Yugi turned to Tea, who was trying to stay calm, though he could see her hands trembling.

"Kaiba!" Joey yelled, regaining his composure he lost.

Kaiba only smiled, "been a long time, Wheeler."

"Yeah," he yelled angrily, "why did you have to go and ruin that?"

His eyes flashed with an unknown emotion. "Don't flatter yourself, I'm here for Ms. Gardner."

"What business do you have with Tea?" Joey persisted, folding his arms angrily.

"Joey," Tea put a hand on his shoulder, "it's okay. He's my boss, remember?"

"Hmm...I've never seen a boss fly all the way around the world to see his employee."

"Chill," Mai whispered to Joey as Tea stepped forward.

"That's right......puppy."

"HIS ASS IS MINE!"

Joey clenched his fists together and ran past Tea to take a shot at Kaiba. He would have succeeded if his bodyguards hadn't stepped in front of Kaiba protectively. One of them pushed Joey back and said, "the next time you attempt to harm Mr. Kaiba, we have the authority to raise a weapon to take you down."

"No, that won't be necessary," Tea yelled as she stepped between Joey and the two bodyguards. "There's no need for violence. Let's step in the front, Kaiba. "

"Very well," he signaled his guards to move toward the front.

Before Tea followed him, she turned to Joey, "behave...please..."

Joey growled "fine," and watched as she walked toward the front.

"Alright," Mai clasped her hands together, "time to do a little spying..."

Yugi gasped, "Mai!"

She sighed and grabbed him by the wrist, "you know you want to know what they are talking about too..."

~~~***Meanwhile***~~~

"Kaiba, I'm really sorry-"

He turned to look at her with his cold eyes, "I didn't come here for an apology."

"But I want you to know that I-"

"I didn't come here for an excuse either."

Tea wanted to come out with, "then why did you come!?" but she resisted temptation.

"Tea," blue eyes met blue eyes, "Kaiba Corps is a demanding job and sometimes it requires for one to put their desires aside for the sake of their position. I'm afraid if you don't come with me today, I will have no choice but to fire you."

"You....came all the way from New York....to tell me that?"

"...and I thought I had no life," Mai whispered from behind a bush, accompanied by Joey and Yugi.

Kaiba looked away from her, "no."

"Then," Tea stepped forward, "what else is there to say?"

"I'll meet you in the car, gentlemen," Kaiba said, addressing his bodyguards.

"What about the blonde?"

Kaiba turned to them, "I'll handle him."

They walked toward the car, leaving Kaiba and Tea alone....or so they thought.

"Come on, he's all alone now!" Joey yelled as Mai dug her nails into his arm.

"You're staying put," she turned away from him, "now be quiet."

"When you started working at my company," he inhaled deeply, "I only knew you as one of Yugi's friends."

Tea had no idea where this conversation was going.

"After a month, though, I accepted you as one of....my friends."

"One of his friends!? Ha! Tea is probably his only friend."

"Joey!" Mai and Yugi whispered.

"Now, I fancy you in a new way..." He leaned forward slowly, closing his eyes as he did so.

"Kaiba-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Kaiba forced her into a kiss. Though she felt nothing, Yugi thought that this was what she wanted. He looked away, feeling his heart throb from what he just witnessed. He knew he had lost....he just hoped Kaiba would take care of her.

"No!" Tea's yell awoke Yugi's senses. "I don't-"

"Tea, you are what I've always wanted." He brushed a hand through her hair. "I...love you."

Tea shook her head, "I'm sorry, Kaiba."

"What? You love me too, right?" His eyes flashed confusion.

She took his hand in hers. "No, I don't."

"W-what?" He stuttered, obviously bewildered.

"I don't feel the same way," she watched as his eyes dropped to the floor. "I'm really-"

"There's nothing to apologize for," he sniffed, "I was just mistaken in my judgment."

He pulled his hand back and started walking away. "Kaiba, wait!"

"Goodbye." He opened the door to his limo slowly.

"Please, wait." She stepped forward, "you're a good person, Kaiba. I hope someone will find the good in you like I did. I'm sorry that I couldn't be the one for you, but someone else holds a special place in my heart. Don't take it personally..."

He didn't look at her. "It's Yugi, isn't it?"

"Y..es," she swallowed hard.

"I told you so!" Joey whispered as Yugi kicked him in the shin.

"Shh..." Yugi looked back at Tea.

"Make sure you tell him before he finds someone else."

He crawled into the limo and closed the door behind him.

"Goodbye," she waved as the limo sped off down the street.

Shook up from the conversation, Tea slowly made her way to the backyard...only to see three figures appear from behind the bush. She stopped and looked at Yugi, Mai, and Joey, who looked too embarrass to talk. "Umm....look....I told you we would find...um...your earring behind here, Mai."

"Oh yes....thanks...Joey." They scrambled out, leaving Yugi to deal with Tea.

Tea folded her arms, "I guess you heard...everything."

"Yes," he looked away with a guilty look.

"Even what I said about....you?"

He nodded again.

"Great," she breathed in deeply and turned away from him.

"Tea..."

She sniffed as if she was crying. "I meant what I said, I do...love you."

"Why are crying then?" He turned her around to see her cheeks covered in tears.

"....because...I know...you feel...differently." She choked on her tears.

"What gave you that idea?" He caressed her chin, capturing tears that stained her beautiful face.

"You...?" He nodded knowingly.

She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. Tears drenched his jacket as her face rested against his shoulder softly. "Why are you crying again?" She looked up with a smile, telling him something he didn't know.

"I'm...just...so happy.."

He gave a sigh of relief as she rested her head against his shoulder again. "Me too.."

"Hey," they turned around to see Joey and Mai, "are we missing something?"

Tea and Yugi looked at each other. "No."

"Sure," he said as he walked into the Game Shop with his fiancee.

Tea looked back at Yugi, "I forgot, I got a Christmas gift for you."

"But....we exchanged gifts when-"

"Another one."

He cocked an eyebrow up, "are you trying to make me feel bad?"

"Yugi," she shook her head, "just close your eyes."

He obeyed, not expecting a warm sensation against his lips.

Tea. Was. Kissing. Him.

'This is better than this year's and last year's gift.'

She broke apart from him, "Merry Christmas, Yugi."

"Merry...Christmas.." He answered, slightly dazed.

~~~***One Year Later***~~~

".....and now...I pronounce thee husband and wife..."

Joey Wheeler turned to his new wife and lifted the veil that shielded the face he fell in love with. She beamed her brightest smile as he leaned forward and consummated the marriage with a soft kiss. Everyone clapped as they broke apart and walked down the aisle with joy in each step.

Yugi, Joey's Best Man, looked over to Tea, Mai's Maid of Honor, and smiled at her....and her violet dress that Mai had picked out for every woman participating in the ceremony. Tea blushed and pointed at Yugi's white tuxedo....that Mai had picked for the men in the ceremony...including Joey.

As they followed the newlyweds out of the chapel, Mai stopped and looked down at her bouquet. "Ready?" She asked as she tossed the bouquet in the air for someone to grab it. As luck may have it, though, Yugi caught it and looked from it to Tea.

"Ummm..." He handed it to her, "what do you say?"

She gently grasped it.

"I do."

~~~***The End***~~~

Woo-hoo! Another successful Yugi/Tea story.