A/n: I'm in Love! I'm in Love! And it's my birthday!

Joey: So, how old are ya?

A/n: I'm as old as Mai.

Joey: (turns to Mai) How old are-

Rebecca:(butts in)It's not proper to ask a lady her age!

A/n: I ain't tellin'. But I'm pretty old. All right, let's getting to the lovin'!

Disclaimer: Sigh, I don't own it, never will (points at empty pockets)

Chapter Thirty Six: I'm in Love! I'm in Love!

"Say, Téa, what're you looking for?" Yugi asked innocently as he taught two small children simple magic tricks on his store, feeling like a fraud.

"Nothing...nothing!" she called as she bustled from room to room, sighing despondently. Then, in about fifteen minutes, she came back into the living room. "Yugi..." She took a deep breath anxiously. "You haven't seen...?" She hesistated, tilting her head. I can't tell without giving myself away!

"The suitcases?" He blurted without thinking. "Nooooo-!" Quickly, he ducked his star-shaped head back down, guilty.

How did he know without me first telling him what I was missing?

Téa blinked, but couldn't figure it out or why he was staring at some cards like he was writing a research paper, until one of the children piped up. "You mean...the purple-gray ones, Miz Téa? Ones with little, bright, red triangles?"

"Wait...do you KNOW where my suitcases are?"

"They're over here! Outside!" The little girl ran to show, and with a half-surprised glance, Téa followed. She looked up to where she was pointing. Along the tops of the trees they were, looking like hanging wash. I can't believe it...he LIED!

"Ooh-oh, you're in twouble," said the little girl's little brother, and they went outside to the small front lawn too with Yugi. He knew all about Téa's savage temper, as the little kid did, and Téa was NOT looking tooooo happy right now. "Hee hee...see yuh in the 'ospital!" Sometimes they were cute. He ran home with his little sister as if staying any longer might stoke it some more. "Thanks for showing the magic twick, Yugi!"

Yugi waved, and turned back, shoving his hands in his tight pockets. Looking at the cases up in the sky, he admitted that it was a silly thing to do. Neither did he realize his own strength - some were impossible to reach. "Yugi...why DID you DO this?"

He pondered for a while, knowing he had to choose words with care and precision. Her arms were folded very tight. Yugi trusted Téa, she wouldn't hit him or anything like that. She threatened and/or slashed at Joey and Tristan, and almost nearly every boy - Exception: the teachers - back in Domino High, but never him. Yugi still maintained to Joey and Tristan that Téa was really a kind and gentle soul. Just a violent maniac. But in a "cute tomboy" way. (His friends looked worried, as if he'd been dropped on the head at birth.)

"Sorry." He said. It wasn't what he was thinking, but already fifteen minutes had gone by without his responding. And it was clear that that wasn't the answer, or apology.

" 'Sorry?' " Téa turned to look at her luggage again. "You threw my stuff into the trees without my permission - " her voice was getting louder with each word "-and I won't accept that apology. I want an explanation!"

Suddenly, Yugi was reminded of when they had found out about her job bas a waitress and she had squirted catsup all over at high velocity. His eye fell onto the docile hose curled up in the grass, half-visible. Perhaps she would squirt water this time, if he didn't answer? There was a very scary look in her eye as she noticed it, too.

"Um, well..." He said, stalling for time. The picture of him getting chased by a hose wouldn't leave his mind. When she bent down and started picking it up, he said quickly, "I, Love, you."

Half-bent on the ground, she stiffened and had to look up bent over. "What?" That -was - cheating!

"Please don't squirt me with that hose," he murmured, scuffing his toe and trying to look cute, forgivable. Which wasn't that hard for him to do - It WAS Yugi.

"Hose?" she said blankly, finally straightening up not-too slow and getting a crick. Rubbing her back, she looked down at it limp in her tight fist. "Squirt? Yugi?" She just kept repeating.Did he really think I was going to...I was just putting it away so that no one would trip!

"I don't want you to go and leave, me." He stepped on his scuffing toe and neared to her where she was in the shade of the two tall trees. "That's why I threw your...suitcases. I wasn't meaning to throw your things; I thought you didn't pack yet; And, uh...It didn't seem heavy, so I thought that you didn't..."

The words trailed off into nothingness and just the whisper of the wind and twittering of some loud bird calling for its mate made up the only noise. Téa thought, Boy...just when I thought for once I was really going to get upset at him, he tells me that he loves me. That's not fair! "Yugi..." she said, going over to embrace him with a smile, "You. Don't. Play. Fair." I never thought I'd tell him that-! But it's true.

Meanwhile

"What were you thinking, Téa, skipping town?" Mai said as Serenity got changed. Baby spit-up were all over the shoulders of her clothes. She changed into a medium-sized light T-shirt and long cotton skirt in a darker shade but same hue. She pulled her long reddish hair up in a rough ponytail as Mai continued to lecture downstairs. "You are one of my bridesmaids, you know. . . if you would've skipped town, I would never forgive you!" I'm her maid of honor; imagine if she knew that I was going to 'skip' town.

"Calm down, Mai," the deeper voice of her brother sounded. "I'm sure dat everythin'll work out fine."

That's Joey mantra, Serenity thought dusting herself. 'Everything is going to be fine.' The voice continued chatting, it was time to feed Christian. She had left him downstairs, with the others. She wouldn't let anyone know, but she was exhausted.. .

The hospital had released both Serenity and Christian James Kaiba last week after keeping them a month - she had had to be treated for a 'complication' gotten giving birth. The press had finally given up and stopped camping out on the lawn. Good. She'd felt like some wannabe rock star.

The baby took up so much of her time, needing constant care, Mrs. W had helped, when Serenity had moved in back with her mother. She knew that she COULD'VE moved in the mansion, and had maids do the feeding and changing, but . . . maybe she was still mad he hadn't visited her as much as she liked.

Plus, even though Kaiba was happy, she knew when he was doing it just to placate and please her. And-.

When he really meant it.

He must've been surprised, she finished straightening up the nursery on the top floor. It doubled as her bedroom, her bed was right next to the crib. Now, time to put him down for his nap, but, first, after feeding him . . . and burping him . . . etc.

She yawned poppingly and glanced with longing at the cozy, comfy bed. It was nighttime, at least it was dark outside. I'm so tired. . . but I daren't let know any exactly how tired I really am . . . I still don't regret having him though. I don't know what to do. One would think that after a whole month of agonizing it over. . . She put her knee on the edge of the corner. Just a quickie. A quick nap. A nap-let, really.

She was just about to slouch over when a stirring at the door caught her ear. She hadn't bothered turning on a lamp and she couldn't see a thing. Still, the shifting of a slight step, the dullest of thumps, and the telltale voice told her who. "Hi, Serenity." She straightened so quickly a crick sounded at the small of her back.

"Hi, Seto!" Even her voice sounded thickly raspy and sleep-clogged; she cleared it, going over. "What are you doing here . . . ? I didn't hear any car pull up."

"I walked." He looked her over, carrying something. "I brought him up."

"Him" referring to their son. "Oh-! Thanks," she said taking him. "I was just about to get him, but I, uh. . . " She looked over her shoulder guiltily at the bed, remembering that she had been about to take a nap.

"How are you feeling?" He was still looking her over, in a concerned tone.

"Fine." she said automatically, but he knew that she was full of fatigue. Her face was pale and her eyes were half-closed. And he thought of when she would throw her arms around his neck in greeting, after a long day of work. Plus, she was avoiding his eyes, taking only quick little glancing jerks.

Serenity put her son into his crib, he wasn't hungry after all so she skipped feeding. She laid his little redhead gently on the pillow which was really a soft cloth folded twice. If you have too high a pillow, her mother said, the baby's head will be abnormally shaped. "Look what it did to your brother." Joey hadn't liked that little comment, she thought wryly.

After covering him up with a tiny-printed blanket, she laid his rattle beside him on the sheet. Rubbing his back made his little eyes droop and his tiny pink mouth suck sleepily. In a few more, he was asleep.

"Is he asleep?"

"Yeah."

He lowered his voice. "I have. . . " He seemed to be about to say something, and then trailed off, looking at him. "He sure is cute, isn't he." He whispered finally while she joined in.

"Mm." They were whispering so Christian wouldn't wake. "Everybody say he looks just like me."

"He does."

"But I disagree. I say he looks more like his papa." Actually, he looks kind of like my father, who had red hair. . . .And was male.

"He looks more like . . . your father." Seto had met her father once, although unpleasantly. She stared in astonishment. "Anyway, like I was saying before, . . . I have something to give to you. It's been a long time coming."

He pulled out a small blue and white bag from a nearby local baby store.

"Seto . . . ? What is this . . . ?" Nonplussedly, she opened it and pulled out a cutest little piece of clothes, it looked like a tiny T-shirt. "OH-!" Chris started to stir and she clapped her hand over her mouth. "It's so cute! Thanks, I bet Ishizu made you get it though - what's this?"

He'd forgotten it take it out and throw it overboard. "Uh."

"Oh . . . a milker . . . just what I need!" Serenity said rather strained. Now I know Ishizu had made him. "Er. . . thanks." He bent his head face forward in his hands, elbows on the railing of the crib, she couldn't help laughing. A little bit. They chuckled for a while and then silence as he took another look down.

"It's a 'thank you'. . . " he said fondly, "for giving me such a beautiful healthy son." Then he turned to look at her.

Tears started in the corners and he worried if he'd done something wrong. It had affected her so much that it surprised her, those words. And she could tell he really meant them. He did love his son after all.

Embarrassed despite it all, she turned for the window. "Sorry. . . leftover hormones from pregnancy. Let's go outside to talk about our futures." She pushed open the screen door just then, there was a soft whoosh as all the outdoor air came inside the house and he followed a ltitle bewildered, a little bit.

Meanwhile

"Hey guys . . . " Joey said in a lazy drawl, "Sis and Kaiba are talkin' on da deck outside."

He was putting away his file in the attic, after using it to fill out some forms. The police people had sent him a fat pack of a job application - 24 pages. Not the most trusting bunch. Mai had helped though, while giving lovelorn Téa some love advice. She called Téa "lovelorn Téa" just to annoy her, which it did.

"You sound like it's my fault," Téa mumbled, staring off into space.

"Of COURSE it's not," Mai was being obviously sarcastic. "You - Listen, the bottom line is, that you have to look in your heart and decide if you're more of a romantic."

"Well, that's easy." Téa had a shy, stubborn look that said she was feeling sorry for herself. Sorry she had to make such a decision. "I don't believe in romance." When they gaped: "For me. It's okay for you two, and Seren and even Kaiba, but not for me. Boys just-" she stopped since Joey was right there and he was her friend.

"Ah. Is that what it is? You know what I think?" Mai dropped her voice conspiratorily. "I think you're scared. Once bitten, twice shy is the saying goes."

"Mai! I . . . AM NOT . . . . 'shy.' "

"Well, do whatever, after you're at my wedding, it's too late to find a replacement," Mai said cattily and Téa mumbled a gee, thanks. She rolled her eyes. "Darling . . . you did say that Tristan is going to be your best man instead of Yugi, right?"

"Yep," came the answer. "He apologized."

"So there! You get to walk down the aisle with Yugi," Mai said as if she had done a big favor. "And . . . Serenity walks down with Tristan, since she's my maid of honor . . . " she bit one full lip. "Unless. . . Seren and Kaiba get married . . . ooh, a double wedding . . . "

"Mai!" Téa said with a glance. "Watch where you're talking about that stuff." She pointed at Joey.

She paid no attention, picturing it away. "She could be my maid of honor still. . . and I could be hers! Oh, wouldn't that be exciting! Right, darling?"

"Huh? What're you two mumblin'?"

"Oh, never mind." Téa wasn't sure if Mai had figured it out or was made that Joey hadn't been hanging on to her every word. Those two . . . they'll be lucky to get to the altar at all!

"Was it somethin' about Sis?" he asked perceptively. Téa's eyes widened in disbelief. " 'Cause she out dere with dat Kaiba right now, talkin' away . . . "

"WHAT! Why didn't you say so?" Mai said impatiently, dusting off her tube top and grabbing his hand. "Come on, I bet they're saying something really juicy about their futures-!"

Téa followed, ignoring Joey's flying feet as he waved behind like a kite. "Mai-! Private conversations . . . did you even know the meaning of the words? Ow, Joey you kicked me . . . "

"Ah, we're all good friends, aren't we? Besides, she can listen in into my conversations . . . "

"I bet not," Téa said sharply. "Joey-! Are you just going to let her do this to your sister-"

Joey looked up, saying, "I'm hungry."

It's a lost cause, Téa thought.

"Me too, dear, me too . . . all right, let's get some snacks first! To the kitchen." They all went down the stairs to raid the fridge, Téa giving in.

Meanwhile

Serenity had taken one of the baby monitors that worked like a walkie-talkie, so you could hear if your baby woke or cried. She put that in the railing, wood like the floors. The deck was pretty and spacious, built only a year before by Seto with a motion-sensor on the light. It flicked on its automatic timer, bathing the whole floor in its glow.

It was definitely dark. The obscured trees and bushes and the rest of the flora looked like cardboard cutouts, against a stormy midnight-blue sky. She remembered another time like this, when it was just like this. Putting her elbows solemnly on the railing like he was, she thought about it while looking out over the banister like he was. It was when, she had told him about the baby, and he took it none too gently.

"I wish . . . I wish . . . .I wish . . . I wish . . . I wish I'd never met you."

A month of thinking had finally the answer. He had planned it all out, no babies until he was twenty-eight and a quarter, and then only one - boy, of course. But not until then. She had often thought what if she hadn't gotten pregnant. They wouldn't be here, unsure, they would be laughing, in bliss, she would be telling him about her day . . . I had the most weirdest dream . . .

NO. I refuse to play the what if? game for the millionth, one hundred thousandth, fifty-sixth time.

She looked sideways, out of the corner of her eye; he looked grim-looking in a usual immaculate dark-navy suit. Perhaps he was thinking along the same lines. "What are you thinking . . . ?"

She saw from his profile, him drop his eyes. "I was thinking . . . .about why you didn't tell me at the doctor's office."

It was a question that deserved an answer. She knew he was talking about when the doctor had informed her of the "good news", after she had fainte after watching Joey's proposal. "There were so many times I wanted to . . . no." She shook in a determined breath. "That's not true; I didn't want you to know because-" she hesistated.

"Because you were afraid of my reaction?" He was a good guesser.

"Well, yes. I was afraid you'd blow up and you did." She didn't state it accusatory, just matter-of-factly, showing him her profile. He mumbled an I'm sorry. "Apology accepted; and the reason for that is. . .the reason I didn't want you to know . . . "

She turned. "It was mostly because I was afraid of...disppointing you."

"Disa. . . "

"I mean, I know I must annoy you sometimes." She paced, the wood creaking underneath them.

"You don't."

"That driving lesson when you taught me how to drive."

I always try to keep my temper with her. I do!

"And when I push you . . . to try . . . " She trailed off. "Something new. Like trying some exercising equipment . . . "

He shuddered mentally and visually. Exercising machines were the most EVIL machines in the world!

"The treadmill incident."

". . . okay, I get your point-!" He waved a hand for 'Stop'. "Still, you should've told me, the minute you knew. Next time: no matter." He paused, still. "But I can see how you'd be afraid." More silence. What are those scuffling sounds I hear- Why those! They're eavesdropping on our private conversations! Great. Just great.

Indeed they were: Mai, Joey and Téa crept in silently at Serenity's bedroom, seeing the baby fast asleep cutely. "Ssh, or they might hear us-! Now - oh, good! She took the baby monitor out with her." Mai seized the other half and turned it on, indicating for quiet. The little red light flashed on. Now to put it so we can hear them but we can't be overheard. . . She flicked the switch, fiddling. Of course, if Kaiba is really proposing to her, he'll be in a real sweat once - if - he finds out there's an audience . . .

"Geez, Mai, you look evil," Téa whispered as Joey checked in on the baby.

"Let's just watch the show, hm?" They settled on the floor - Mai had popcorn - fat free and non-butter of course, Téa had some peanuts, Joey chips. They chewed, watching through the filmy lacy white curtains, just being able to make out a blue blob - Kaiba - and a pink blob - Serenity. I'd better lock them outside, in case the decide to come in so we won't get caught spying. Mai slid the safety bar down shut, ignoring Téa's glare. "I wonder what we missed. . . ?"

"Even though I got some gray hairs, and probably lost a few years of my life, I still had some fun." Some.

"Yeah, some of it was fun." Long ago. Happy.

After a moment Kaiba said, "How long have we've know each other . . . ?"

"Four years." She was kind of surprised he'd forgotten, but didn't dwell. Her mind was full of 'the treadmill incident.' Tee hee.

"Four years." He repeated, looking back somewhere in the tangle of trees. A forest overgrowth grew in the back of the Wheeler house. "The best, you know that. . . ?"

"The best years of my life, too." She smiled easily, still feeling a little dizzy from tiredness.

"We were happy."

"Yes. . . "

"There isn't anything that I wouldn't give you. Look-" he sounded as if he were pointing something out to her, or about to. "Over there; do you remember?" He was gesturing to the road that ran sideways in front of her house, it looked stony gray and washed out in the streetlights.

She smiled, both reminiscent and sleepy. "Yes, of course I do. That's where our first date . . . it ended." No longer sleepy, she was grinning nervously. " . . . And you asked me to marry you that night."

"I didn't know that! Why didn't I know that? Do you know that?" Mai's astonishments were so loud that they woke the baby, who started to wail tinnily. Téa gave her a look and got up to check. "I can't believe I didn't know that."

"What?" was what Joey could only say, over and over. "What? What?"

"I knew." Téa said, returning with Christian cradled in her arms. "Serenity told me. But something happened. I don't know what. That explained it."

"And what did you say when I asked that?" Kaiba was saying in a light, easy tone.

"I said, 'Are you mad?' What's this all about?" A wrinkle was appearing.

"You'll see. Just humor me."

She'd never seen him like this, he looked as...excited as a child on Christmas, not even on...Christmas. "And then . . . you kissed me, and then. . .."

Taked back in time for a split of a second, she remembered of how he'd looked when he'd pulled back. The moonlight/combined streetlight gleaming off his hair...rather like now. Even...his suit was the same, one that he hadn't worn in a while. She felt her face get stiff.

"And then . . . ?" he prompted, giving her a few seconds to recall.

" . . . and only then I said yes. It was quite a kiss. " She took in a sharp breath when he knelt. Hey eyes were no longer half-closed in sleep but wide as saucers.

"Just listen." When she did, he didn't speak. "...Just keep going on," he took her hand, the left one. "What happened the next morning?"

"Um, um," she was nervous, "You came to my house? After dedicating a song to me on the radio?"

"Which?"

" 'Someday'."

"Okay. Keep in mind, the lyrics." Fortunately, her mind blanked. "And then what happened after I came to your house, sweetheart?"

"Oh-hh!" Mai squealed in excitement, grabbing a fistful of Joey's sleeve, Téa wasn't sure, to either keep him in place there or because excited.

I'm not even going to look. I'm not even going to look. I'm not even going to look...at Joey's face, Téa thought, unconciously gripping the baby harder from all the romantic tension in the air..

"You held up four fingers," she said wonderingly, "Because you were trying to get to me, and Joey stopped you-"

Damn straight, Joey thought, recalling.

"- and mouthed At four? while I looked out my room. Out this window, in fact," she gestured behind them.

"Oh, is that what you got out of it?"

He spoke teasingly.

"Wha . . . ?" she looked hopeless. "I don't understand. You were waiting, for me."

In response, he reached behind him at his back pocket and uncatched a something sparkly.

"Wow! He's giving her a DIAMOND!"

"It's a diamond ring, Mai."

"Still . . . look at it! It looks like a freakin' iceberg came and landed on her hand!" Kaiba was putting in on Joey's sister's finger. "Uh . . . but mine is so much better, dear . . . "

"They DO have a child," Téa said. "Still...it is kinda nice..." It was so big, it was mesmerizing. At Joey's outraged protests, she added, "Oh, stop it Joey. Didn't you say the other day that they should be together?"

"I said, togetha. Not married!" He got up and started unlatching the door, Téa got up too so he wouldn't stomp on her.

Meanwhile Mai was listening: "What I really meant was, by that, was. . . I was asking you to wait . . . for four years. Someday. For me. So I love you the right way. And on the night, I fell in love with you enough to ask you to marry me - on our first date. And ever since I have fallen even more. So . . ." His azure eyes met her own. "I'm kind of hoping you'll say yes. Again."

"But, but," she sputtered, and had been sputtering since he'd started his speech, "If you're too young to have a child, you're too young for marriage." He pursed his lips, "I mean, logically..."

He sighed.

"I just, I just... don't want you to have regrets..." she whispered.

He realized what she was going on about. "I won't. Because I never, ever regretted ever meeting you,. Your presence changed my life permenantly. That night. And although you do push me time to time. . . I'd rather feel something than not feel at all, again.

To make it formal: "Serenity Faith Wheeler, will be marry me and make me happy-?"

"Yes." She said hastily before he could finish. "I will."

"Wait!"

(A/n: ah, dramatic part :D)

Joey had finally gotten the screen door open - that darn safety bar. Mai rushed out, took Serenity's hand, and began comparing it to her own ring. Téa was last, trying not to look too guilty about spying on what should've been a private conversation and playing cool. Christian waved his rattle and mewed, putting in his tiny mouth.

"Goo," he said muffledly.

"Mai! Support me here. Tell 'em Sis is too young ta get married!"

"Oh, okay . . . yes, Kaiba, you bad boy. . . proposing to your girlfriend. . . what is the clarity factor on this thing?" Seeing Joey's look: "Oh, but mine's better, a lot better of course."

Serenity took her hand back from Mai's death grip and added, "...but, only if. . . . Joey were to give me away." She was talking about the wedding.

"Oh! I know!" Mai said suddenly so suddenly Téa jumped. And Téa didn't usually jump. "A double wedding! You don't mind, do you dear?"

"Course I do, I haven't given my consent yet, " Joey felt a lot better now. "So, let's see . . . "

Uh oh, Téa thought. He's got that scheming look. That scheming, rubbing-hands look.

There was a slight pause in which he looked Kaiba up and down as if trialing him to a "fair" evaluation. But his mind was already made up.

"Okay . . . what do I have to do . . . ?"

"Glad ya asked, Kaiba-boy. First, if ya wanta marry my sista, you'll have to do it the right way . . . and ask me permission. Since her father, uh, is incapacitated right now. I'm da surrogate father."

So he could say no? But he hadn't a choice. Everyone was watching. "Okay, okay! . . .can I have permission to-"

"Nicely. And bow."

Kaiba made a mock bow. "May I have permission . . . to marry your... 'daughter'? Mr. Wheeler?"

Eh . . . it was a little sarcastic, but it'll have to do. "That's it. That's all I wanted." As they were celebrating, he said, "Wait! One more thing."

"Joey-!" Mai said warningly. He was pushing it.

"Relax. I'm not gonna make him crawl aroundand do my bidding or somethin'- I'm not cruel." Everyone sighed impatiently. "I want a duel rematch! Yoiu and me, Kaiba.A good fair one!"

"I always play fair. All right. But if you win," he said over Joey's cheers, "It's only because of beginner's luck . . . "

"Yeah, yeah. You wish. Hey-!" he said as they starting kissing away. "What did I say about doing THAT in front of me?"

Maybe he should've added that. Téa was amused, rocking Chris a bit, because Joey looked so depressed. And not to call you a dog. "Oh, stop sulking. It's it romantic? They're so in love! Look! Look, dear!" Mai exclaimed, pointing at them in a way that reminded her of a game show girl displays the new item. "Love! You see? See? See?"

Joey did not see.

"We'll talk about it again in fifty years," he declared crossing his arms.

"Oh, you big stubborn . . . oaf . . . "

"I'm no oaf." His eyes fell on Christian, who looked up at him with wide blue eyes, undera mop of red hair and a rattle in his mouth and he melted. "Awwww..."

"Yunkel." Christian declared, pointing to him.

"Hey! He recognized me, his uncle! At last!"

"Come here..." Mai said. "You big softie."

As they started kissing, Téa stepped back and couldn't help to sigh at all the romance in the scene before her. Then she shook herself and covered Chris's eyes and went back in, the safety bar catching. "Not for your eyes, little one . . . "

TBC!

A/n: (hugs herself) This was the original idea, to have a double wedding so it's not spontaneous. It'll be mostly JxM cause they're my fav! There'll be beautiful women, handsome men and romance, romance, romance! Ah! I'm so in Love! And as for YxT it seems smooth sailing...until I throw in atwister! (hissing from Yugi) But...I love twisties...ok,ok...I won't.

Rebecca: Mwahahah! (pushes author) My show from now! (throws twisties in)

Yugi: Nooooooooooooooooo!

A/n: She did it, not me. It'll all work out in the end.

R E V I E W!