Not as much of a delay this time! Sorry if this isn't all that great, but I have a three-day weekend and thought I could use it to catch up on writing. Still feeling bad after the 'maybe an update before Christmas' thing and then it was like mid-January. But hey, I'm not perfect:) Thanks for all reviews…so here you go…

What kind of hair do oceans have? Wavy. (Wow…lolly jokes really do suck.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing mentioned in this except maybe the teeny bit of creativity that put the story idea in my head. Off you go…

Penultimate Chapter. Yay!

As Joey placed the phone back where he found it, he sat back down on his bed and ran his hand through his hair, sighing. 'why…you idiot! Why did you ask…bloody hell.' He thought to himself, questioning his reasoning as to why he wanted to see Seto Kaiba. Sure, there had been a few revelations…and kisses…throughout the day, but it still didn't make any sense.

"Better get it over with." He muttered, pulling a t-shirt on as an addition to his jeans. Creeping out of his bedroom so as not to wake anyone, he sneaked down to Danny's room, checking that he was asleep, finally moving swiftly past Ryou on his sofa as he grabbed his jacket and made a hasty exit through the door, removing his keys from his pocket.

As he got into the car and turned the engine on, music immediately started blaring. Recognising the song, he began to sing along, slowly pulling away only to speed up when on the main road.

"Fate fell short this time, your smile fades in the summer! Place your hands in mine I'll leave when I wanna!" He sang out as he hit a junction, surprised at how busy it was considering the time.

"This place was never the same again, after you came and went, how can you say you made anything different to anyone standing alone on the street with a cigarette on the first night we met?" He continued to sing, while patting his hands on the steering wheel before pulling through the junction and across the other side.

"Look to the past and remember and smile and maybe tonight I can breathe for a while, I'm not in the scene, I think I'm fallin' asleep but then all that it means is I'll always be dreaming of you!" The radio carried on without Joey's input as the sound of Blink 182 caused him to reminisce about many days listening to 'Feeling This' alone in his room while hoping to stop liking Seto Kaiba.

"How ironic. Stupid radio." He voiced aloud as he came to the end of the street and immediately saw the gated area the "rich and famous" inhabited. He pulled up to the gate and stopped at a speaker-box.

"Please state name and reason for entry." It ordered.

"Joey Wheeler, here to see Seto Kaiba for personal reasons." Thinking of the best reason he could think of considering he didn't know himself why he was there.

"Can Mr Kaiba confirm this?" The voice sounded again.

"Yes, I had a phone call with him just ten minutes ago."

"Okay, go on through. Enjoy your visit." And then there was a click signalling the end as the looming gates swung open revealing a row of houses most people could only dream of owning.

"Enjoy my visit…pfft, sure." Joey mumbled as he drove slowly along the road, checking the signs at the end of the vast driveways and gardens to find Seto's. After a couple of minutes, he finally stopped by some railings and more gates after noticing the 'Kaiba' sign. He pulled over and got out of the car, leaving it unlocked feeling highly sure that no one in this area would be interested in his little car. In front of him was a security camera following his move and another speaker-box, suddenly coming to life, making Joey jump as it did.

"I'm opening the gates, the door will be open when you arrive, and you can drive the car up." Seto Kaiba's voice rang through quietly. With another click, the speaker-box shut off and the gates opened with a small hum, as Joey got back in the car and began the drive up to the house. On his way he took in the gardens, admiring Seto for having possibly the nicest of all he had seen on his way up. But soon he came to a rounded parking area; parking his car up he noticed the front door slightly ajar.

Walking gingerly through the door, he called quietly into the hall, his call immediately followed by Seto emerging from a large door to his left.

"In here." He commanded and Joey followed, not wanting to argue now.

After they both settled down and had said their 'hello's', Joey immediately launched into his supposed reasons for visiting so late.

"So, it wasn't Yami cheating. Yugi, with Téa. I'm…I'm sorry, I jumped to conclusions and I shouldn't have done that. It was just that everything seemed to add up and make sense until Yugi blew up anyway!" He laughed nervously, looking towards Seto for a reaction.

"Well, I didn't expect Yugi to…wow. That's quite a revelation." Seto said, looking genuinely surprised.

"Yeah. You know I really am sorry, see me and Yug' got thinking. He started rambling saying he had caused problems between us, stopped us being happy, y'know. Then we talked about that person you said you loved…who left you. Three years ago. Ah dammit, can't be arsed with this crap. Did you really love me?" Joey said, bluntly looking at Seto who now had a worried but also exasperated look upon his face.

"I didn't think we would ever have this conversation." He let out a small laugh. "No, I didn't love you Joey. We were just kids, too young. Besides, how can I be in love with someone I barely got to know? No, not love. I was just immensely and uncontrollably attracted to you." He finished with an infectious smile that Joey couldn't help but return and laugh at.

"Damn straight!" He said as they both ruptured into laughter at the very idea of it. They remained in this state for a few moments before they calmed down and fell silent.

"Do you think we would have…no don't worry about it." Joey said but refused to finish.

"Go on." Seto urged, growing curious.

"Well, I really liked you at high school too, god knows why. I used to try and talk myself out of it after school, no good that did! But, I was just thinking, well wondering, if you thought we would have been good together. I mean you have kissing going for you!" Joey added, laughing nervously whilst berating himself for making such inane conversation.

"Interesting. You know, I think we would've been alright, I mean we're okay now. Not fighting." Seto stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yeah, but that's outta my control. Given my way we wouldn't be sat here like this. I'd be at home fuming about how much you piss me off but also how much I fucking like you despite it. Jesus, it's a mess isn't it. Look, I'm sorry I've been so weird around you. I thought, well I'm not gonna go there. I thought some things that weren't true and I've been a prat for it." Joey said, lowering his head as he fiddled with an imaginary thread on his jeans.

"You're forgiven. What about now?" Seto asked, watching Joey intently, awaiting a response carefully.

"Eh? Now? What do you mean?" Joey asked confused as ever as Seto impressively stifled another fit of laughter.

"What about now? Us, now. Is it any different to high school now?"

"I don't know." Joey started honestly. "I mean, when I came back it was similar. Saw your building and decided I didn't wanna see you, but I did you know. If you're asking if we'd work together, I don't know, Seto. Kaiba. Sorry. We've changed a lot, I'm not sure I know who you are, you don't know me."

"You don't have to be so touchy about my name. I told you once, I'll tell you again. This isn't high school. I was so stupid about that crap back then. Anyway, where did the whole 'us together' thing come from? Not your usual topic of conversation."

"Because…damn. Be…well…you see…I. I don't think I quite stopped liking you. I guess I was playing on my teenage hopes and dreams. But I wanted you to know that I'm leaving again. I can't stand staying here with Yugi anymore, he's not who I thought he was. But, you know, if you thought that we could be together, or give it a go or something then…well…" Joey hung his head once more as he trailed off.

"You would stay?" Seto attempted to finish.

"No. No, god no. I'd go, but you might go with me, or some long-distance thingy. I dunno what I mean. Jeez Kaiba, I thought I had it all figured out! Look, this is a pretty much once in a lifetime thing for me, I either do this now, or I never do it. I have felt 'uncontrollably attracted' to you for some time too, and it's getting worse. Only now, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing, it seems normal and I wanna do something about it. But it's up to you. Do you want to try this or not? I mean, you might hate my guts for all I know, I'm just going by you at high school and all that stuff you kept saying about me leaving. See! Not so stupid am I? I saw through your cryptic crap!" Joey finished, quite embarrassed but triumphant as he realised he had proven Seto wrong.

"I never thought you were stupid. I knew you would work it out eventually. What exactly do you want to try?" Seto asked, narrowing his eyes and his looked at Joey, interested.

"This is so weird. Us, together. Do you wanna try it?" Joey asked again but was met with silence. He grew more and more unnerved as the silence remained, Seto dropping his gaze but instead switching to watching his hands as he twiddled his thumbs as if they would give him the answer.

"Ok, fine. Erm…I tell you what. I'm leaving, tomorrow. I'm not coming back, probably. If you get an answer, then call me or something, but I can't stay here, it's too late and I didn't have a logical reason for coming over. Danny might've woken and could be looking for me. But either way, I really am sorry for all this, I shouldn't have jumped the gun like I did. If I don't see you again, thanks for everything, I don't deserve forgiveness really. If only I could say the same to Yami." Joey mumbled the final part as he stood and made his way to the living room door. "I'll see you around."

"Joey?" Seto called as Joey had made his way to the front door but soon came rushing back, hope glittering in his eyes. "Erm…have a safe journey home, it's dark out there, anything could happen. I…I wouldn't want to be responsible. Goodbye." And then he was gone, leaving Joey to see himself out but also leaving him more confused than he had been earlier in the day. He couldn't decide if he'd been given a little hope or complete and utter rejection. Seto had seemed like he cared until the final statement, suddenly becoming selfish and more like the Seto Joey had left behind at high school. With this thought weighting on his mind, he left the huge house and began the drive home, stopping once again at the tedious speaker-box he had encountered on his way.

-----

Once Joey had left, Seto climbed the stairs to his bedroom and climbed the stairs. 'He's playing with your head, Seto. Don't let it get to you.' He tried to convince himself mentally as he stared at his ceiling with no particular interest. 'But he wants a relationship with you, what the fuck was that all about?' He continued in his head before finally erupting through annoyance more than anything.

"For fucks sake!" He yelled before quieting down, remembering the housekeeping were all most likely asleep. Deciding that he wasn't going to sleep, he took a quick shower to wake himself up properly to avoid the temptation that sleep offered, and made his way down to his office deciding to see if there was any work outstanding, or at least to play a game he had probably long since complete five times over. Logging onto his computer, the first icon he noticed on his desktop was the one for loading the Harry Potter game. 'The game Danny played when they came to see me.' Seto thought, rubbing his forehead with his hand as he grew more and more confused. In a spur of the moment, he turned in his chair and grabbed the phone lying on the desk next to him and started dialling Joey's number.

"Don't be such a prat." He scolded himself, placing the phone on the desk once more and returning his attention to the computer screen.

He continued this for the next few hours before finally deciding that he should call Joey. He knew he wanted to give 'it' a go, whatever 'it' was. He had wanted it since he first realised he liked Joey as more than an acquaintance but he couldn't admit it. To tell Joey would be admitting to him that he wanted to, something he had never had the ability to do for fear of rejection. There were many things Seto wasn't afraid of, but rejection was something he did fear. He couldn't bear the thought of someone saying 'no', the idea that Mokuba would one day not want to know him, the fact that Joey would walk away. But after Joey's confession, he had been given a new confidence, a ray of light and he decided to do something about it. It was so much easier over the phone than face to face. So he picked up the phone once more and shakily dialled the numbers, he wasn't entirely sure why he was shaking, maybe because he was about to drop everything at Domino for Joey who aside from himself, had little to offer, but maybe that was enough. Maybe all he needed was Joey right now. He put the phone to his ear and waited while chewing on a nail with anticipation, but was soon overcome with anger as he heard a continuous beeping meaning that Joey was already using the phone. He wasn't angry that Joey was on the phone as such, he was angry at himself for leaving it. If he had told Joey when he had visited then this wouldn't have happened. Checking the clock and seeing the time as four-thirty in the morning he knew he would have to start packing if he were to leave with Joey later in the day. Trouble was, he was still undecided about it, and he had hoped Joey would clear up his confusion.

-----

"Hello?" Joey answered the phone wearily at four-twenty in the morning, angry at whoever it was.

"Joey? I need to talk to you. I'm sorry, I don't know what happened earlier, I didn't mean to…Joey please talk to me!" A frantic Yugi begged, sounding as though he had either been crying or was currently.

"Why should I, Yug'? And why are you calling so damn early!" Joey asked with annoyance.

"Joey, I need you. You're my best friend, you understand me more than anyone! I don't know what I'd do if you walked away from me now!" He continued begging, ignoring why he was calling so early.

"Yug', I'm leaving Domino later. I won't be coming back, I have no reason to. I only came back for you but how can I stay now that I know you've lied? You've been holding this lie, making it bigger and bigger for nearly five years now. I don't know how you could do it to everyone. The sheer fact that you can do that has made me lose any trust I had in you, liars aren't worthy of anyone's friendship. Maybe you should've thought of that. Who would judge you and refuse to talk to you for making a mistake? No one. You made the mistake Yug', you deal with it. Goodbye." Joey said honestly and fiercely as he hung up, sure he heard a gasp as he put the phone down.

It was then his thoughts trailed back to Seto, how he had confessed everything he had been feeling since he was sixteen. He thought it would feel better than this, he thought he would feel released, let go of Seto's hold once and for all. But no, it was different. It seemed like his teenage feelings had suddenly come swarming back to him. He had neglected his feelings for a long time, pushing them aside for his family, Danny and Yugi. He hadn't given any time to consider them or do something about it, so much so that he had thought he was over it. But it was when he worked out that it was he that Seto was talking about, everything hit him, it hit him at such a speed he didn't know what to do. He wanted to be with Seto, or at least give it a go, he knew that much – he always had – but to ask was selfish, he couldn't expect that Seto would feel anything anymore, not after everything Joey had said to and about him. It would be ludicrous if he did.

But his thinking was cut short as Danny appeared in his doorway, rubbing his eyes and clutching a blanket.

"Uncle Joey, why were you shouting?" He asked sleepily as he walked over and crawled onto Joey's lap, snuggling into his chest. Joey wrapped his arms around him and held him close, wishing him to fall asleep again.

"It's nothing, Squirt. Look, we're going to be leaving tomorrow. We're going to back to see Grandma and Grandad, okay? I don't like it in Domino anymore, would you like to go back home?" Joey asked, gently not wanting to wake him if he had drifted back off.

"Yes! When do we go? Oh, what about school? My friends! Will I get to go back to my old school?" Danny asked, suddenly very awake as he leaped out of Joey's hold and became extremely excited.

"Yes. Now, go get your backpack and put all your little things in it, I'll get your clothes for you. We'll be leaving later, okay?" Joey answered, smiling at the child in front of him, ruffling his hair as he left the room to collect the large luggage bag for clothes he had brought with him. He had already made the decision to rent the apartment out fully furnished while he was away. So he started to pack, now he was feeling the release. He was free from everything that been haunting him since he left the first time, well except Seto but he would have to wait. Even if Joey never saw him again, that was the one thing he would never be free from, and it scared him but he knew he had to deal with it. He had to put Danny first and forget about all the past events, even if it was a little convenient to him as well.

Ack, another crappy chapter! But there's one more to go, so hopefully I'll get it right, it'll be a last chance haha! Please review! Thanks. L. xx