A/n: Oh no. 40 chapters, 850 reviews later, it's here! Dun dun dun. The finale! I had some plans for a sequel, but . . . it seems redundant. So if I get at least 5, no 10 requests for a sequel, I'll do it. It'll be about the couples' honeymoon trips and starting a family, action/adventure/romance, they'll meet new people, some nice, some not so nice...teehee. Soo, I'll let the reviewers decide! Speaking of reviewers, I thank all those that reviewed! And had the tenacity to stick and support me! (cries w/joy!) I think only one had reviewed every chapter, I won't say who, because I'd be embarrassed if it were me, but I bow forever in gratitude! (bow bow bow bow)

Whoa...head rush. Anyway. Some got a bit snippy last batch, it's flattering that pple are so into my fic, but calm down. Esp. those YxT fans. 'Get them together or die!' seems to be their motto. Speaking of mottos, I believe every story has one, though I have yet to find this one's. Maybe at the end. See you.

Disclaimer: Could this be the last time I'm saying this...? I don't own YGO!

Chapter FORTY: Can't. Resist. The. Puppy-Eyes!

Late Night, around midnight

"But WHAT?"

"I'm very sorry, ma'am, but the flight's been delayed! The pilot has been taken ill!" The tall woman with the red-and-white uniform with golden wings flinched at the look on Téa face. "Here's the printout of the next flight. . . .have a good morning, ma'am."

With a grunt of frustration, Téa reached forwards and snatched the paper, the woman winced as if expecting to be hit. And WHY is that old woman calling me "ma'am" like I'm her mother or something? She's old enough to be mine! Stupid spineless airline people. Angrily Téa plopped down on a hard plastic chair and curled up into a ball, seething. She waited until she was done before tucking a sweater under her head and using it as a pillow. It didn't help much.

The airport was dark and lonely. Outside, the rain fell in heavy sheets like snow. Hailstones! In the middle of summer! "Well, there you go," she said aloud, readjusting in her chair. Something was poking her in the rib cage. It was her phone. Bringing it out, she gently placed it on the armrest. It tottered, wobbling on the curved surface.

She placed her head back onto her sweater-pillow. She wished she could call Yugi, longed to hear his voice. But she knew that she daren't. Still, she lie staring, at the metallic silver phone, wondering instead of sleeping.

Meanwhile

Next Morning

"I think it's looks like a Drooling Lizard."

"You're the Drooling Lizard," she teased.

"Why, you-" He growled and she squealed as he tried to grab her. They had been lie in bed, staring at the clouds and making shapes (monsters) out of them as they floated right past their window. The view was panoramic-like, and they were so high up it seemed like they were floating right beside in the air. All they could see were the tips of palm trees and the occasional aircraft guy gawking at them.

It seemed dream-like but it wasn't. He knew because he had pinched himself plenty of times, and so had she. Pinched him, that is.

"Do you think that that guy really saw us?" she said, her eyes sparkling micheivously.

"Probably, by the look on his face."

"You saw it, then, dear?"

"Not well, just a glimpse."

She giggled at that. "Well . . . I guess we ought to get ready for our trip."

"Guess so." But neither moved, only kept staring happily outside at the fat, puffy clouds that rolled just as lazily by. His arms were around her at her waist and her hands were placed on top on them. Glancing down at their wedding rings, gleaming newly, she cleared her throat.

"Darling. . . ?" He went Hm? after a while. "Do you. . . believe in fate, or circumstance. . . .?"

She waited for his answer - he thought carefully, wanting to be honest. "I guess it depends. If you're talking about us, which I'm pretty sure you are. . . then I'd say it was a little bit of both."

She nodded, expecting something like that. "Well, you want to know what I think? I think circumstance brought us together, but on the other hand, the romantic part of me says that we were fated to be together."

Hmmmm . . . . " . . . .Mm. So. . . . which is it?"

"Ha. We'll see." She gave a good morning kiss. "Now won't we . . .?"

"Definitely." She rolled on her back and pulled him on top of her for a good morning kiss number two, and the phone rang.

"Must be the wake-call service," she said faux-sleepy.

"Hello. . . ?" After two tries of fumbling, a steady chirp on the other end answered. "Ahh!"

"Tee hee, heh heh heh. . . . "

"Goooood morning! This is your wake up call! Do YOU know what time it is? It's 7 thirtyyyyyyy!" The caller, a young woman, sounded like a game-show announcer. It would've blasted in his ear if his weren't holding the mouthpiece to his ear, and Mai lifted her head in astonishment.

"Uh . . . . thanks." He replaced the receiver, making the whole phone crash.

"Very perky, aren't they. . . .? That sounded like your sister." They exchanged raised eyebrows.

"Yeah," he said, sitting up. ". . . we'd better get ready."

"All right, you're right. Woo hoo, nice legs!" she said when she was gathering stuff up while he walked to the bathroom to wash and dress.

he threw her a crinkled-nose glance over his shoulder and disappeared. Chuckling, she brought out two dresses, trying to decide what to wear.

Decision made, she was brushing her long gold hair into a loose braid when she glanced at the clock. Yipes. "Darling, are you almost ready yet?" she yelled, hopping around the room on the foot to put on her sandals.

"Almost!" He finally emerged, freshly combed and shaven in a dark-navy vest with a freshly pressed white shirt underneath. She looked approvingly at his tan pants, which was the almost same color of his hair. "Wow."

"Wow, yourself." Mai finished putting on her earrings, and went towards him, nodding. "I'm glad you learned not to wear jeans and a T-shirt to the airport. Remember?" she said cattily.

"Yeah, I remember." She had taken him by storm in her long pale dress that was almost to same hue as her creamy skin, so it looked as if she was wearing nothing at all, just curves. "You're not going to wear that, are you?"

"What's wrong with it?"

"You're going to cause a stampede." She was the sexiest woman he had ever known, or met, or didn't meet, and he stepped forward, reaching for her.

"Darling, now you know we have to go."

"Yeah, yeah."

"We have plenty of time for that later," she said coyly. "In fact, I'd say we'll have all the time, during our honeymoon."

"Later" didn't sound very appealing to him. But what she said next did.

"Actually. . . ." she said with a kind of uneasy glance, "I wouldn't be surprised - I mean - we might have a visitor, nine months from now."

She looked up at him. He looked shocked. Knowing him well, it either meant that he didn't know what she meant, or . . . most likely, it was that, she though dryly.

"Oh. Oh! You mean, you - you really think so?" he said, excitedly. She couldn't help breaking into a grin in response. "That's great!"

She laughed at his enthusiasm as he hugged her. "I said might. Don't get your hopes up, I have to take a test." He nodded, still estatic. "But! Don't mention it to anyone, okay? Especially your sister; I want it to be a secret, okay?"

"Fine. . . anything . . . " He held the door open for her and followed her to the elevator - he was right, the othe men passing turning their heads first looked at her admiringly, then at him in shock, but he didn't care. Or yell or make belligerent moves for once. If he was to become a father, he had to show a good example, starting now.

Grinning, they kissed all the way down, nearly missing their floor on the elevator, while others gawked at them. Unnoticingly, they went forwards to the awaiting limo, refreshed and refueled by the chaffeur.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs."

"Thanks, Roy." They had breakfast on the way to the airport, talking and chatting about where they were going to go. She had made all the plans, of course, but wanted it to be a surprise.

The day was airy and bright, even inside the check out and customs. She had, and this was unusual for her, even relented to one carry-on bag. "Wait . . . should you be flying. . . .?" he said.

"I'm sure it's O.K. It's only after six months." She said flippantly, but he was worried. Nevertheless, they went to find the right gate from which to take off. "I was going to book us by boat," she chatted on, "but I figured, what the heck."

"Mm-hm - " he said as they passed the gate next to theirs. "Hey - isn't that. . . ?"

"Téa?" she looked astonished to see her there, all curled up into a ball. Pausing, they went over to say hi.

"Mm? What time is it?"

"A little after eight. What are you doing here? I thought your flight left at midnight last night." Mai said to her.

"Oh, my flight! Yeah, it got delayed. . . . I had to stay the whole night here, walking around, pacing. . . ." She struggled to get into a sitting postion.

"Pacing?" Joey said, "Go on."

"You cut your hair!" Mai exclaimed.

"Oh, yeah. There was a hairdresser at the end there. . . and Mai, stop that." Téa ran a hand self-conciously through her shorn hair, which made her eyes looked even bigger than usual. She turned around once in compliance. "What are YOU guys doing here. . . ? Oh, yeah, your honeymoon. . . " she answered her own question as they continued to gape at her. "Did you have a nice night? Don't you have somewhere else to go?" she said crossly when they just gawked.

" 'Delayed?' " Mai repeated pointedly.

"Look, T. . . " Joey began, as he and his wife exchanged significant glances. Téa crossed her arms as if she were cold. They knew that the other was busily thinking of ways to convince her, but. . . judging from the unrelenting look on her face, Téa wasn't going to change her mind. When she set her mind out to do something, she did it, they both knew.

A few minutes passed. Téa got up and sighed, staring out the huge window at the planes taking off. In a fashionable blouse, she looked like another different person, especially with her hair.

"No, you go. . . "

"No, you go. . . "

"All right," Mai said. They both walked up. "Look, Téa dear-"

But as Téa began shouting, they nearly jumped out of their skins.

"I don't KNOW what's - what to do! All night I was thinking, and walking, and thinking some more - I realized that I can't go back!" She seemed hysterical. "And now, I'm more CONFUSED than EVER. . . ."

She covered grabbed her head. "Well. . . that was easy," Joey muttered underneath his breath. Mai shushed him and gently patted the sobbing girl as if it happened all the time.

"There, there," she said soothingly. "Look, why don't you just stay if you're not sure? I'm sure you'll be happy."

"But - I can't - do you think he would mind?" Téa felt a need to explain herself. "I'm considering not to go, because of a promise I made. . ." she paused. "I promised him that I would finish our date."

She didn't need to explain to Mai who "he" was. Mai nodded encouragingly.

"And, well, I can't just leave without ever seeing him again! Does that sound stupid?"

"Of course not. You go back and he'll be waiting, I bet you anything."

"But -but- he was so mad, and the stuff he said. . . " Téa looked very upset. "He was absolutely right. I was trying to blame him for making me leave, and p-punishing by leaving the decision for him to make. . . .I don't know."

She stopped forlornly. Mai sighed.

"But you're right Mai. For once. I'm going to tell him that I'm staying. He deserves to know." she said with determination, as if convincing herself that this was the right thing.

" ' For once'? What does that SUPPOSED to mean?" Mai said, but Téa wasn't listening. Joey dragged her to the side.

"Let's let her make the decision," he said, steering her away as they bumped into someone. "Hey!" Alright! Perfect timing!

"What are you guys doing here. . . ? . . . ." Yugi asked them for the second time. He looked anxious and very nervous as he looked over their shoulders in his best neatest suit and a suitcase. "Is that. . . ? Did she . . . ?"

Deciding not to answer about what they were doing there in Téa's gate, Mai could guess what he was doing there. "Well, go on!" she urged.

"Well . . . I don't know. . . ." Crouching behind them, Yugi looked even more anxious.

"Don't know WHAT?" they said impatiently.

"If I should . . . convince her to . . . you know. Ah, forget it." He started to walk off; Joey grabbed his shoulder.

"Man. . . . you get your BUTT over there and TALK!"

"Ow, Joey! Stop shaking me!" Yugi said angrily, batting his hands off of him.

"There, there dear, calm down."

"I've gotta shake some sense into you."

"Ah, just forget it! Forget you saw me!"

"Look, Yugi. . . " Mai said, bursting to tell him, "she's having second thoughts." She informed him on a whisper, expecting he would be thrilled to hear it.

"Yeah, right," he said shakily. "Nice try."

She was through being Missus Nice Woman.

"JUST GET OVER THERE AND FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF!" she hollered, pushing him so he scooted forward, nearing bumping into her.

"Jeez, you screamed even louder than Téa."

"Shh, let's watch!" They went around the corner to eavesdrop.

Having been staring into the distance, Téa's eyes widened at the sight of him. "Yugi."

"Er, hi." he said awkwardly. what was it about her that always made him feel awkward? "I, uh, see you're ready to go."

"Mm."

Just then, the call came for the last boarders: "Flight 360 from Domino City to New York, United States. . . "

They both jumped as if scared and gazed around the ceiling.

"Look, Yugi, I have something to tell you."

"I have something to tell you too."

"Really? What. . . ?"

"Well, I mean. . . . " he glanced behind him, gesturing to his bag. His suitcase that he had packed the night before. "I decided that I'm going too."

She reeled, stunned. "-Uh-"

"If it really means that much to you, I won't say anything to stop you," he said in a rush, as the second boarding call came on the P.A., "And . . . I'll go with you with you if you let me, and apart with you don't. But I'm going."

He stopped there, broke off into silence, and stared at his feet shyly. Meanwhile, she tried to make sense of his words. He must be kidding. What is he supposed to do in New York? What about the shop we had both fixed up? Was it all for nothing?

But looking down at his hand, she saw that he wsn't joking. A boarding pass and a ticket receipt was there, along with his one big fat suitcase. "..." Vaguely, she remembered that she was about to stay here. . . .

"Say something, Téa." he urged.

"I don't know what. . . .to say. This is such a nice thing to do." She smiled. "Nicest thing anyone's ever done for me in fact. . . "

Last call.

"Will you let me go with you?" he said hurriedly, moving aside to let all the other passengers through. "Please?"

"Oh, just let him," said one. An old motherly lady.

The rest were all staring at either Téa or him. The tension in the air cut her with a knife. Beads of sweat started on her brow.

"No pressure," he said, winking. She let out a soft sob.

"All right," she said, letting out a laugh, then, on impulse, giving him a hug. "Thanks."

Her hug, affectionate and warm, stunned him.

The same old worried frown line creeped between her eyes. "But what about-"

"You cut your hair," he said suddenly, interrupting.

She blushed when he reached up to touch it but didn't pull back. "Yeah. It looks kind of weird, the guy didn't know what he was doing-" she babbled on with a rueful smile.

"I think it makes you look beautiful."

Aww, she's turning red as tomato, Mai thought, spying from afar.

"But that's probably because I love you."

All RIGHT! Joey thought cheerfully.

"I. . . I love you too." she whispered. Her blue eyes looked enormous magnified by tears. "Thank you for coming. I was starting to think-"

He put a finger to her lips. Then kissed her. Even the last LAST boarding call went by without heed.

"HEY! Get a move on; you'll miss your last flight outta here!" They broke apart, startled, at first then laughed.

"I am SO going to kill you Joey!" Téa called as she disappeared into the jetway through the crowd's laughter and giving her ticket to the flinching woman from before. She looked curiously at Téa.

"Well, wasn't that nice?"

"Definitely."

"Though, you could've been more subtle, dear."

"I suppose." He scratched his head and smiled. "You know, I'm really going to miss those two. A lot." They went back to the gate they were supposed to. Luckily, it had been delayed, or else they would;ve missed it being too busy gawking at Téa and Yugi.

"Can you believe the outcome?" Mai shook her head so her long braid bounced. "I thought Téa had left something and he was returning it. . . "

"Not me. I knew what was to happen." He said it all-knowingly.

"Yeah, right. You were shaking so bad, it was like you're on a earthquake." It seemed to be a reunion there, they saw other people from the wedding, waiting to go back to their homes and their lives. "I'm going to miss this city." Out of all the cities she had been to, this one had the most meaning.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I'm really going to miss everyone: my sister and her friends, people at school, even the minister." She giggled.

"Isn't love-" she began, then stopped as someone cleared their throat from behind them.

"Sis?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Hello," Serenity said, beaming up at them as usual, looking excited even more than usual. She was wearing a dress suit in a dark foresty green, with a matching dress shirt underneath in a darker green. It came in perfect contrast with her reddish hair.

Beside her, Kaiba stopped talking and turned forwards, also dressed conservatively in his usual navy coat.

"Gee, Sis, what are you doing; going to a career fair?" At this point, nothing would surprise him.

"Very funny," Serenity crinkled her nose at him, swatting. She looked like she was to excited to speak, trying to find the words.

Mai went helpfully, "So, what are you guys doing here?. . Oh yeah, going to your honeymoons." She looked to her new sister-in-law to her new brother-in-law, trying to find a clue where. Huh, I never thought Kaiba as a brother, but I guess so. Each looked mysterious, Kaiba was actually smiling and holding his hand behind his back. Or either his smirk looked friendly.

Joey scowled, suspicious. "Well? Where are you going?"

"Glad you asked that, brother," Serenity practically shivered head to toe with anticipation, "Well, me and Seto were talking, about where to go on our honeymoon, you know that it's a very important event, and we decided - and agreed on - "

She said that all very fast. Which ought to have been a warning. Joey felt a stab of dread, staring at her husband.

"Yeah? Yeah?" Mai said, prompting and grinning herself at the way Serenity was.

"To go with you guys!" Serenity said it in a game-show announcer's voice, giving away prizes.

She flung her arms up. "That's. . . great!" Mai said, going forward to hug her. "Isn't it, dear? Dear? Uh, dear?"

"But-but-but-" Joey said. "but- but-"

He stared from his sister to his wife.

"Your trip sounded like so much fun, and we can be a big family!" Serenity went on, in explanation, in a rush.

"But- but- what about your son?" he faltered.

"Mom's going to be taking care of him. Just kidding. I'm taking him with us, silly!"

"Puppy?" Kaiba said.

He had finally stepped forward and brought his hands from behind his back. "Oh yeah, that's my present to you guys," Serenity said, improvising on the spot. "Isn't he cute?"

She was talking about the squirming, wiggling bundle of fur in Kaiba's hands.

"OH! It's SO CUTE!" Mai exclaimed, taking it from Kaiba. It was brown and yellow all over with a big scrunched up face and sleepy brown eyes. Its black nose wiggled curiously as she hugged it.

"There you go," Kaiba said, trying not to laugh, but his act didn't fool Joey who scowled even harder. "Your fianc - I mean, your wife likes dogs." He put one hand under his nose, in a not too laborious way, trying to hide his smile.

I can't wait till I'm a cop. Joey silently shook a fist.

"Oh, yeah, and when you're a cop, this can be your police dog!" Mai said as if reading his mind. "What's wrong? Don't you like dogs, dear?"

"I used ta." He said pointedly looking at Kaiba.

"Oh, come on. Look how cute he is," she said, holding the puppy inches from his face. "How can you resist this cute wittle face?"

Joey sighed, shifting his gaze to Serenity. She looked so darn hopeful. It was her face that made her relent, "Oh, all right, to all of it-" The dog slurped his face chin to nose. "Argh!"

They all broke out laughing.

"So, it's settled then!" Serenity said happily, clapping her hands. "And don't worry," she said when Mai opened her mouth. "We've made special arrangements to allow the dog onto the plane."

"Really?" Mai cuddled it away. "How come?"

" 'Cause we're going on the special jet plane," Serenity said. "His company." Kaiba looked grave. "He's sad because Mokuba had to start boarding school today-" she whispered, beckoning them to lean forward. Mai did, but Joey was too busy wiping his face. "-Mokuba didn't put up to much of a fight because Rebecca convinced her grandfather to let her go to the same school as him-"

"Ah," Mai said.

"And he's thrilled," Kaiba put in desolately. "Anyway, let's go get ready, Serenity."

She took up the baby seat, which was big enough for two, so Mai put in the new puppy along with Christian, who giggled gleefully. "Come on," she said, leading them towards the plane as the big door rolled shut.

F i n i s h e d !

A/n: Ta DA! Can't. Resist. A. Puppy! So what do y'all think; sequel or no? As I said, it'll be adventure but romance since they're on their honeymoons, and all, but mostly adventure. JxM'll start a family, and etc. Plus, it won't be for a while.

Then again, writing is hard work, and I won't if there's no requests. And plus there's all these 'new rules'. . . -.-;; Or I'll write other stories, maybe.

Well, I enjoyed entertaining you all, and this fic turned out to be not what I expected it should, and now I've thought of the motto, or moral of the story. 'Family is important.' Simple, but better than 'Love is the roller coaster of life, and trust is the safety bar. If you don't put it on, you'll go slamming into a wall.' I didn't write that. It's hilarious. He wrote it!

K: did not.

A/n: Well, the slamming into the wall part. -.- Y'all should hear what my muses wrote. That was the only one printable. Return, muses! (throws balls) 4 x the reviews of DTMSY and twice as long. It's an improvement, eh? I decided to skip the epilogue, mentioned. So sorry! See ya 'round!

- Lotsa (LoveoftheStoriesAnime)