Hello, Dear Readers. This chapter is dedicated to Skurria for being my 151st reviewer on another story I am working on 'Safe in my enemy's arms'. To Sailor Panda, if you contact me soon I will still write a chapter for you.

Be warned, massive fluff ahead. This is just a small moment in time in Tèa's future, only about 5 minutes.

...vV...Vv...

Again Tèa felt her body pitch forward then stop suddenly. She was disorientated for a few seconds before she felt her body start to move. 'I recognize this...I'm in another future me.' She thought back to the future she had just left. 'Who would have thought that Joey could be so sweet. But, Joey... I sure didn't see that one coming. I wonder who I'm in love with here. I don't think anyone could be as unexpected as Joey.'

Tèa settled herself to watch as her future self paced restlessly up and down a hallway. 'Wait a minute...I know this room. This is my hall, I don't recognize that painting but this is definitely my house. Wow, this must be only a few years in the future - at the most.'

Future-Tèa had stopped in front of the hall mirror and was checking her appearance. Tèa was wearing a blue evening dress that fell to the floor, her hair was swept up into an elegant mass of curls but something else caught the attention of the Tèa watching. 'I get curves! Yessssss!'

Carefully touching up her hair Tèa jumped violently when the door bell rang, before her fright was replaced with a radiant smile. Hurrying to the door, the girl wrenched it open. The boy standing on the threshold looked up from his perusal of the flowerbeds and smirked.

The Tèa from the past gasped. 'Seto Kaiba?... but he hates us - with a passion. This is one weird future.'

Kaiba was dressed to the same degree of formality as Tèa. He looked her over then snorted,

"I don't see why we have to go to this."

Tèa rolled her eyes and stepped aside so he could come in. "Hello to you too, and we are going because you promised that as soon as we finished school we would allow our relationship to go public. Then we both agreed that the Graduation Dinner would be a good place to start. Come on Seto, I'm sick of only being able to talk to you in private."

He sighed, for all the world as if he was making a huge sacrifice, "Very well" then he added in what Tèa took to be a gesture of goodwill, "At least I get to see you dressed up, you clean up well."

Tèa blushed "Thank you. Speaking of what I'm wearing. I didn't wear any jewelry, just like you asked. Is there any particular reason why?" said Tèa, smiling up at her boyfriend.

In response the other reached into his suit's inner breast pocket. He carefully pulled out a velvet box, the kind used to hold the larger pieces of jewelry.

"This was my mothers. I wanted you to have it," He opened the box and turned it so the girl could see. Resting on a red velvet pillow sat an elegant necklace. A sapphire pendant with ten tiny surrounding diamonds hung from a delicate gold chain.

"Oh Seto, it's gorgeous. You really want to give it to me?"

He nodded as he motioned for her to turn so he could put it around her neck. Tèa did so, moving so she could see into the mirror. "My mother always told me that she was going to give this to the woman I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I can't see any reason to wait."

Tèa looked into the mirror, Seto stood just behind her adjusting the necklace. "It suits you"

Twisting, so that she could look at him over her shoulder Tèa smiled, "Thank you."

He returned her smile gently, an expression he was careful to only let her and Mokuba see. He pulled back slightly, whispering into her ear.

"If you don't want to be late we should go."

The girl nodded, picking up her jacket. "Mum! Dad! We're leaving now."

Two middle aged people who, Past-Tèa noted, hadn't aged that badly emerged from the sitting room.

Mrs. Gardener gave a happy cry, clasping her hands to her chest.

"You two look wonderful. Photo" she decreed, producing a camera. Seto and Mr. Gardener shared a male moment, both rolling their eyes, as Tèa dragged Seto over to stand by the window. She wrapped one arm around his waist and they posed until Mrs. Gardener had finished her roll of film.

Finally free to leave, the parents walked with them to the door. Tèa's parents had supported this relationship since Tèa had brought an unusually nervous Seto Kaiba home to meet them. They knew how much strain would be caused by going public. All four of them stood for a moment in comfortable silence until it was broken by a fatherly gesture from Mr. Gardener.

He reached over and shook Seto's hand seriously. "I'm glad Tèa found such an upstanding young man. You both have my blessing."

Tèa smiled, opening the door and stepping out with Seto. She wished both her parents good bye then walked down the porch steps.

They walked down her front path together but halfway to his waiting car, and after making sure her parents had shut the door, Seto stopped. Turning Tèa so she was facing him he lent down and kissed her on her forehead. When he pulled back she noticed a slight tightness to the corner of his eyes. There was something he wasn't telling.

"Okay, spill. What's the matter?"

He looked at her in disbelief before giving a resigned sigh. "You know, I used to pride myself on not letting anyone see my emotions. I still can't figure out how you do it."

She frowned, a warning for him to stop trying to distract her.

He took a deep breath, "The news was leaked."

"What?" she said startled.

"Someone told the media that tonight I would be going to this dinner with my 'romantic interest'. There will be reporters swarming that place. They won't be allowed in but they'll wait outside." He looked away into the middle distance and Tèa recognized he was about to express concern, something he still had trouble with. "I'd hoped that we could ease into this. It was always a give-in the press would be interested in our relationship, but I was hoping for a bit more time."

Tèa smiled, her heart constricting slightly, he cared. It wasn't him who would need the extra time, he was used to media attention, he wanted this situation to be easier for her.

"I can handle it, the sooner I get used to it the better. Besides," here she flashed him an impudent smile while moving toward the car. "I'm sure you'll protect me from the big bad reporters. I still remember the day you made that journalist cry when he came looking for you at school."

He laughed out loud at that, hurrying forward to hold the car door open for her as she climbed in, before he followed suit.

As the driver pulled out from the curb Tèa shuffled over so she could lean her head on Seto's shoulder. Absentmindedly he caressed their joined hands with his thumb but neither one spoke. They just enjoyed the quiet moment together, knowing that this night would be a long one. Too soon their moment ended; they had arrived.

Carefully the driver maneuvered the limousine to a stop outside the hotel being used for the school's Graduation Dinner. As soon as it pulled up a group of about twenty reporters converged, shouting questions loudly enough to alert the cars occupants to their presence.

Seto watched his girlfriend carefully for how she was handling this, the press attention was a big part of his life. If she wanted to stay with him then it would have to be a big part of hers. He hoped she wanted to stay.

He turned and looked out the tinted window with a frown, "Do you really think you're ready for this?"

Tèa nodded giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "When I fell in love with you I was willing to take it all - the good, the bad and the paparazzi."

He inclined his head in relief and she watched the emotionless mask he always wore in public slip over his features.

He opened the door and stepped out, taking the hand he offered her she followed. As soon as she emerged numerous camera flashes exploded around her. Temporarily blind and dazed she felt the part of her mind that didn't belong in this future slip away. Around her the world faded to black.