It feels strange typing an author's note for a chapter that I'm not sure anyone will read... (sighs) It's been nearly three years since this fic was last updated, and nearly two since I wrote its ending out for a friend who is no longer part of my life. Time passes so quickly, and we all change: eventually, we all move on. Unfortunately for my dedicated readers, I outgrew this particular story before it was complete... but when I came across this file today, I thought I might as well upload it, in case anyone was still interested in seeing it.

Thank you to everyone who bore witness to this, my first effort to write something worthwhile. Its quality is pitiful compared to my more recent works, but regardless, it was part of my growing process, and I love it for that, if nothing else. My greatest hope for it is that each of you reading this, each person who has done so much as glance at it, or indeed any of my writing, has found something, some treasure, some insight, that they have been able to take away with them, that has made their lives even the slightest bit better. Perhaps it's very presumptuous to even hope such a thing, but I do, and I want to share that with all of you as well.

To all my reviewers, thank you for reinforcing my confidence at a time when I really needed it. I promise to honour your faith by continuing to hone both my craft and my self-worth. To all my readers, thank you for allowing me to share this piece of myself with you, and for giving me the chance to touch your life, if only superficially or fleetingly. May all your lives be as bright as you've made mine.

Near You Always, Final Chapter: "Cross My Heart"

For the thousandth time, Joey ran a hand through his slightly-tamer-than-usual golden mane and exhaled deeply as his left hand smoothed down the pure white fabric of his elaborate wedding dress. "I can't believe I agreed to wear this," he told Mai's reflection as she approached him, make-up kit in hand. "Remind me again why my supposed friends are so sadistic?"

The other blonde sighed, looking almost regal in her bridesmaid's dress of lavender silk. "It was your boyfriend's idea," she reminded him. "Now, stand still for a minute. The dress is gorgeous, but you still need some work." Evidently considering that the conversation had come to a close, she rummaged through the assorted tubes, bottles, and other containers before finally pulling out some foundation.

Joey recoiled instinctively from the unfamiliar substance, and Mai clicked her tongue indignantly. "Joey, if you make me ruin that gown chasing you all over the place, you're going to explain the dry-cleaning bill to Seto."

Her unwilling canvas smirked. "What's the catch?"

Mai sighed again. "Just hold still, okay?"

Ten minutes later, when Serenity came in, her cream-coloured gown flowing out behind her, Mai was touching up a horrifically tense Joey's lip gloss, and her eyes were narrowed in equal parts exasperation and concentration. "Would you quit licking it off?" she demanded even as his tongue darted out once again, and the pink tinge that began to spread across his face wasn't all due to the liberal amounts of blush she had just finished applying to his cheeks.

"It tastes like strawberries," the blond defended himself lamely, and Serenity giggled.

Mai turned to the new arrival and thrust the cosmetics at her. "Here, he's your brother; you deal with him."

Serenity frowned. "There's something a bit strange about the thought of applying my big brother's makeup, Mai."

Joey took advantage of the temporary reprieve brought on by the girls' disagreement to glance back at his reflection. His face was just the slightest bit redder, almost glowing in the bright lights of his dressing room. His lips shimmered faintly as he cocked his head to one side, and as he blinked he caught the faintest hint of green-gold eye shadow which, coupled with traces of eyeliner, made his amber eyes shine brilliantly. The tiara to which his veil was attached glittered mutely as he moved, as well, and not even the sceptical blond could maintain that he looked anything short of fantastic.

"Hey, Mai, thanks. It looks great," he admitted, and a full-blown grin spread across the female duelist's face as she turned away from Serenity.

Seto glanced around his dressing room in puzzlement as he patted the pockets of his trench coat for the fifth time before turning to Yugi and Yami, who were standing by in case he needed any last-minute things done. "Where's my cell phone?" he asked.

"In your suitcase," replied Yugi helpfully.

"Right. Thank you." The former CEO's azure orbs passed over the room once again before returning to the near-twins, who even now were wearing their Millennium Puzzles over their tuxedoes. "And where would my suitcase be?"

This time, it was Yami who replied. "On a plane somewhere above the Pacific, with the rest of your luggage," he said, watching Seto's eyes widen just the slightest bit in shock.

"Seto, you might not be CEO of Kaiba Corp anymore," said Yugi as he walked up to the taller man, "but you've still got a tendency to obsess about things."

"I most certainly do not," Seto shot back indignantly, folding his arms over his chest and looking away from his former rival.

"Yes, you do," repeated Yugi. "Joey told me about how you've been driving the poor florists and caterers insane, not to mention the hotel manager..."

This time, Seto's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. "Joey knows about all that!" The only reason he had insisted on doing everything himself was because he had wanted their entire wedding day to be a complete surprise to his soon-to-be husband. If Joey knew about his plans, it had all been for nothing.

"No, no." clarified Yugi quickly, trying to calm the dragon master down. "He just heard you yelling at someone about catering through your office door while he was passing by, and eavesdropped for a couple of minutes while you confirmed some other things. He has no clue about anything specific, though. I promise." A grin spread across the short boy's face. "It's going to be really romantic, isn't it?"

"Ask Joey about it when he comes back," was the only answer Seto gave, and Yugi pouted. "How much time until we start?" he asked Yami, changing the subject without any of his usual subtlety.

The spirit glanced at his watch. "About five minutes," he said.

Seto glanced into the mirror one final time, sighing with uncharacteristic nervousness. "Well, no sense waiting here any longer," he declared, and was almost out the door before he turned back to Yugi. "Just toss whatever I've left here in the trunk of the limo, please?" he said, and then was gone with all the grace of a summer's breeze.

Seto Kaiba did not get nervous. Nervousness was for those weaker than he, those who were anything less than completely prepared for every possible eventuality. However, standing at the altar next to Yami and the minister that would be performing the ceremony, trying desperately to hide his sweaty, shaky hands behind his back, not even his own denial was powerful enough to convince the blue-eyed man that he was anything other than a complete stress case.

"Is there anything missing?" he whispered to Yami.

"For the seventeenth time, not that I can see," replied the Pharaoh. "Just try to relax, will you? I promise that this thing will go off without a hitch... well, other than the act of you and Joey getting hitched, that is." The shorter man shuddered. "Yugi said that phrase once or twice... incredibly vulgar, if you ask me."

Seto didn't answer. He was too busy scanning the aisles, pews, and altar to make sure that not a single rose petal was out of place. Once Joey came out, there would be no going back, and if anything ruined this day for either of them, it would be better for whoever had been in charge of making that thing run smoothly that they had never been born.

Before he knew it, the organ had struck up the bridal march, and every muscle in Seto's body knotted. Here we go, he told himself. No turning back.

Serenity was the first to walk down the aisle, with a basket over one arm. Smiling, she tossed handfuls of the fragrant petals from side to side, pausing only to wink once or twice at a few familiar faces in the small congregation. She nodded in Seto's direction as she reached the end of the aisle and moved off to the side, watching intently as the rest of the wedding party began to make their entrance.

Mokuba was next, carrying the wedding bands on a cushion of royal blue velvet. The rings were white gold, sized to perfection by the best jewellers in Japan. They were also covered in delicate, detailed scrollwork, and the engravings glimmered in the rainbow light filtering through the stained-glass windows of the church. As his brother took his place off to the side, opposite Serenity, Seto breathed a sigh of relief. The rings were safe; one less worry on his mind.

Behind him came Mai and Yugi, clad in violet clothing that set off their eyes perfectly, as bridesmaids. As they approached, Yugi caught his darker half's smouldering gaze playing over him, and his cheeks turned as red as the tips of his hair, something that didn't go unnoticed by the over-observant groom. A tiny smirk ghosted across Seto's face as he watched the deceptively innocent boy and his taller companion complete their journey down the aisle of the church. Looks like Joey and I won't be the only ones losing sleep tonight.

Then, finally, the organ went silent briefly before striking up again, twice as loud as before to Seto's ears. The small congregation turned as Tristan stepped out into the aisle, Joey following him in full bridal regalia. His gown was pure white silk, the sleeves laced with diamonds in the same manner as the veil that adorned his tawny mane, obscuring his face even more completely than his careless mop of hair usually did. To Seto, he was beautiful, exquisite, and every other synonym for absolutely stunning that existed, but seemed to be eluding the grasp of his genius mind.

Smiling softly, Tristan offered his best buddy his arm, leading Joey down the aisle in what seemed to Seto to be painfully slow motion. The nearly ethereal garment that the blond wore swirled around him as he moved, his eyes fixed on the altar before him and, much more importantly, the man standing beside the minister before it.

Whispers began to pass among the small congregation, stopping suddenly as Seto's dark, withering glare was levelled at each of the speakers in turn. Beneath the safety of the veil, Joey smiled at his protector. This was where he belonged; in the shadow of his battered yet powerful dragon master's wings. He had been tough for too long; now, he could simply be free from all that had plagued him in the past by taking refuge in the love that he and his soon-to-be husband shared.

Eventually, the two reached the end of the aisle, and Joey let go of Tristan as he passed his bouquet to Serenity, then allowed his azure-eyed love to take his hands in his. "I feel so weird," he confessed to the man for whom he would lay down all he had and consider it a poor offering.

"I know what you mean," replied the taller man, exhaling in a rush. "But I want to show everyone how much I love you, and that supersedes anything else I may be feeling."

Joey smiled almost imperceptibly. "You're the only person that could get me into a dress," he chuckled, and Seto smiled back.

"You look beautiful," he whispered softly, and the blond flushed crimson as the minister stepped forward, clearing his throat to draw the attention of both young men to him.

"If we may begin, Mr. Kaiba..." he began, and Seto gave him a curt nod, irritated that he had to take his eyes from the vision in white standing beside him for any reason.

"My dear friends," said the minister to the congregation, raising his hands in a welcoming gesture. "Allow me to thank you on the behalf of Mr. Kaiba and Mr. Wheeler for attending their wedding ceremony." His gaze swept the crowd, warm and serene. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the love that these two people share, a love that has grown between them over time, nurtured and tenderly cared for each step of the way by the remarkable individuals who now stand before you.

"It is not an easy thing to love someone of your own sex in this day and age. One runs the risk of being reduced to the status of a second-class citizen on the basis of their sexual preference, and as such many people have chosen to hide themselves from the world in prisons of their own design and construction. This is not the case with these two men, by any stretch of the imagination; on the contrary, our presence here before God on this fine day confirms that love, no matter what form it chooses to take, truly can overcome anything that stands in its path."

"Amen, Father," replied the congregation.

The minister reached for a worn book resting on the altar behind him, opening it to a page that he had read thousands of times over the course of his life. "Entering into marriage is not a decision to be taken lightly, no matter who one might be. There are many factors that must be considered, many scenarios that must be planned for before such a contract even becomes possible. Most importantly, though, such a union requires the full, unconditional commitment of both parties involved. I ask Seto and Joey, now, to swear this commitment before myself, God, and the assembled company." With that, the minister stepped back, and Seto turned to his puppy, azure eyes set in adoration. With the back of his hand, he stroked one pink-tinged cheek through the fabric of the veil before he began, reciting vows he had long since memorized in dreams.

"Were it not for you, my beloved dragon-pup," he said, loud enough that his voice could carry to the back of the church if necessary, "I can honestly say that I would never have even contemplated this relationship. I saw love as a weakness, a vulnerability that must be guarded against lest it be exploited and destroy me from the inside out." A deep chuckle. "How wrong I was.

"The weakness is not allowing yourself to love, it is to grow too dependent on one's partner to define oneself. That is one of your most endearing qualities, my dear Joey; you have always been and will always be your own person." Seto paused as a few members of the congregation giggled, as well as Serenity and Yugi. Mai only smiled, rather tragically. "I will not stand here and pledge to be your other half, for you are complete in yourself. I ask only that you allow me to walk beside you, to bask in your light until such time as it, along with all that I consider worthy of living for, is extinguished."

The brunet reached over to his little brother, who obediently handed him the appropriate wedding band. "I offer you this ring, Joseph Wheeler, as a symbol of my oath. I swear before all earthly and heavenly authorities, should you still wish to become my husband, to protect you, care for you, and share with you all that I am." Long, tapered fingers held the ring up to Joey's eyes. "Like this ring, my love for you has no beginning or end. It is eternal and perfect, as you are perfect in my eyes, now and always." A small, vulnerable smile ghosted across Seto's lips as he concluded his speech. "I have asked you this once, yet I shall ask one final time, so that all here may bear witness to your answer." Silence reigned as ruby lips were pressed together for a moment in a gesture of apprehension. "Joseph Wheeler, will you allow me to spend the rest of my life in the golden glory that you embody?"

Not the slightest whisper polluted the air now as all eyes were fixed on Joey, whose shoulders were hunched and quivering spasmodically. Immediately, a flash of alarm exploded in Seto's chest, and his mind raced as he tried to explain his love's silence in any of a thousand different ways.

Before any of these vague possibilities could manifest themselves into anything coherent, however, Joey looked up at the brunet standing before him, then turned to the minister. "Can I kiss him now?" he asked softly before turning back to Seto, sniffling once. "Obviously, I still want you, Mr. Insecurity!" he proclaimed, and another wave of laughter broke out among the occupants of the church as a more than relieved Seto Kaiba slid the ring onto the slightly shorter man's right hand.

The minister coughed. "I think that we can accept that rather unorthodox 'I do'," he said in all seriousness, and Joey blushed once again. "Now, I believe it is your turn, Joseph?"

Mokuba moved obediently to the blond's side, and Joey reached down to ruffle his hair before lacing his fingers with Seto's and staring up into azure orbs so deep they could swallow the moon and stars with enough room left for his soul. "I'm no good with all that fancy words and stuff," he said, "so I'm just gonna ramble, and you can stop me if I get too stupid or crazy, okay?"

Seto smiled down at him supportively. "Do this however you want, love."

The blond took a deep breath, exhaling quickly. "Okay, here goes," he said, almost as though he were trying to convince himself that this was actually happening. "I never thought I'd be standing here with you, in front of all these people, a few minutes away from being married to you." The blond gave a nervous chuckle. "Not that I'm having second thoughts or anything; far from it. It's just more than I dared to dream about, you know?

"All too well," replied Seto sagely, and Joey smiled.

"I love you. I've always loved you, Set. Even when you were a grade A plus jerk to me, I couldn't deny my feelings for a second. You're just too damn beautiful, scars and all." One gloved hand reached up to brush the brunet's smooth-shaven cheek, and Seto leaned into the touch ever so subtly. "I feel like I don't deserve you sometimes. I mean, you've always been my version of Prince Charming... even when the 'Charming' part left something to be desired." The congregation chuckled a bit more at that, and Joey let them settle down before he continued. "Since then, you've proven to me what I've always known; that you're a generous, sweet, loving, gentle, beautiful inside and out human being. You're everything that I wish I was, that I could ever ask for in a partner, and so much more." The blond exhaled sharply as he lifted the remaining ring from the cushion Mokuba carried. "I know better than anyone else how much better you could do than me, a street punk." Seto tried to interrupt, but the hand that had been stroking his face now came to rest against his lips. "No. Let me finish. Even though I know that you could do better, will you accept my unconditional love and devotion anyway, humble as they are?"

"Of course," replied the taller man without hesitation, his voice thick with emotion, and Joey placed the ring on his finger with one of his trademark 1000-watt grins. Their vows formalized, they turned to the minister, who cleared his throat sharply.

"If anyone has just cause as to why these two souls should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace," he pronounced.

In the shadows beneath the choir loft, a figure in a pink dress stirred, yet thought better of stepping forward at the last moment. She had no just cause, a fact of which she was all too aware.

Relieved that no unpleasantness had occurred during that segment of the ceremony, and spurred on by Seto's rather impatient glare, the minister hurried to conclude the ritual. "In that case, by the power vested in me, I unite your souls in the light of God for all eternity. What God and love have joined, let no mortal tear asunder."

Without waiting for the customary invitation, Seto practically ripped the veil from his dragon-pup's face and dove in to claim his lips, hungrily devouring the breath from Joey's lungs as everyone else in the church applauded, including the figure at the back.

"You held up well," Yugi whispered to the tall blonde beside him as they both clapped, Mai far less enthusiastically than the tri-color haired boy.

"Always a bridesmaid," she sighed as Seto gathered his new husband into his arms gently, as though he were made of porcelain. "Maybe I should give Duke a call..."

The shorter of the two laughed. "It'd never work out."

"And just why not, Yugi Mutou?" Mai demanded indignantly.

"Because he's not Joey," replied the other duelist honestly as Joey and Seto finally came up for air and began to stride quickly down the aisle, the organ blaring from the choir loft. "Come on, that's our cue!" he said cheerfully, as though nothing had happened, grabbing one perfectly manicured hand and dragging Mai off after the newlyweds.

Slowly, the congregation began to trickle out of the church behind the wedding party, most of them headed for the reception. Once the last guest had exited, Tea Gardner stepped from the shadows that had sheltered her from everyone else's eyes during the entire ceremony. Her pink stiletto heels clicked against the marble floor as she walked down the aisle to where Seto and Joey had been standing only moments before, and she sighed regretfully as she adjusted her matching handbag on her shoulder.

"Congratulations, guys," she said sorrowfully to the spectres that still lingered in her mind's eye, sitting down in the front pew and hanging her head dejectedly, a few displaced strands falling down around her face. She was as physically alone then as she had been in spirit since she had rejected Joey's sexuality, and not a day would go by that she would be free of regret for that slight.

Though she knew that Joey would have no trouble forgiving her, she also knew that she would have to forgive herself before she asked him to, and that was something she hadn't done yet. Still, she had felt obligated to attend the wedding, even though she hadn't been invited. Even though they were no longer friends, she still respected the bond they had shared. That was all that had kept her from ruining their day in the sun; the friendship that she had valued for so long and would always hold dear.

"I wish you every happiness," she concluded as she rose and exited the church through one of the side doors, in case any of the guests had lingered in the front to take pictures. Though her intentions in coming had been honorable, it would not do to be seen by anyone who belonged there.