Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX or 'At The Sign Of The Sugared Plum'

Chapter 4

Mapleside Manor

The room they walked into was huge and painted purple, with a thick carpet under their feet. Jaden had never been in such a house before in his life, and found it all terribly exciting. He dashed around from place to place in the room, racing at the speed of light but at the same time being careful - he knew that Jesse would be in a lot of trouble if he brought someone into the house and that someone broke something valuable. And there were a lot of valuables in the house.

There were vast golden mirrors hanging on the walls and portraits of elegant looking people that seemed to watch you no matter where in the room you went. It was a grand house, indeed the grandest Jaden had ever seen - he'd never known that a house could have such things inside its walls. It seemed too amazing to be a place made only for people to live in. Lord and Lady Truesdale must be monstrous rich, he thought.

"It's amazing!" he called, dashing all around, while Jesse followed him, laughing. "You get to live here all the time? Maybe I should get an in-service job! This place is huge. I didn't know mirrors got that big."

"Come on, Jaden, we have to get upstairs before the mistress hears us. She's in a bed in the next room at the moment because we don't want the children to pester her with their crying or shouting" Jesse explained, pulling Jaden up a winding staircase. "Would you like to see the baby? I have to check on her anyway."

"Sure, why not?" Jaden had always liked little kids and his mother had never been able to conceive another child after him, so he was on his own. He'd always longed for brothers and sisters and had a fondness for children.

Jesse took him through several corridors and told him to wait outside one huge room, before he disappeared inside. He heard quiet whispering, but from the mature tone of his voice, Jaden guessed that he couldn't be talking to the baby and that there was another servant inside the room. He waited for a few minutes before Jesse reappeared with a three month old baby in his arms.

The baby had tufty navy hair and the blue eyes that all babies have. She was, just as Jesse had said, a very pretty child, with a little heart-shaped face and looked like pure innocence. She was big enough to support her own head and she lay against Jesse's chest, wide awake and looking up at the stranger in front of her. She didn't cry, though, as Jaden had expected her to.

"This is Vicky" Jesse introduced her, and Jaden couldn't help but notice that Jesse's voice was very soft when he had the baby with him. He was obviously fairly fond of the child. "Isn't she a beauty?"

"She sure is" Jaden laughed, touching the hand of the baby very softly. Her fingers twined themselves around his index finger and held on tight. He grinned and then glanced up at the bluenette.

"Who were you talking to in there?"

"Blair. She was taking care of this one for me" he said, stroking the baby's cheek. "We take turns since she has no actual nursemaid. Louisa, the master's elder daughter, has her own, so she's all right. Blair would probably take care of the baby herself, except that the mistress is often very sick and needs constant attention when she is - that's why I take care of Vicky so much."

"She seems to like you."

And she's not the only one, he thought.

"I should hope so" Jesse laughed. "She must think I'm her father, because I've been tending to her since the day she was born. She spends more time with me than anyone else."

Jaden was surprised that he was envious of a baby.

"I should probably get her something to eat now" Jesse said thoughtfully.

"I'll get some milk for her and you can wait in the room, if you want."

Jaden turned towards the person who had just spoken, and saw a small, dark haired girl smiling up at him. She gave him the sort of smile he gave Jesse. Jaden smirked, knowing where the girl's fancies were heading and also knowing that he could never look at any girl, no matter how pretty, in that way.

"That'd be great, Blair" Jesse said, nodding to the girl as he walked into the room that Jaden assumed was the nursery, gesturing for Jaden to follow him inside.

Jaden smiled awkwardly at Blair and then followed Jesse, who had gone inside the nursery and sat down on a primrose yellow couch - nasty colour - with the baby on his lap. Jaden sat next to his friend and allowed the baby girl to take hold of his finger again, grinning as he did. Now he understood why Jesse was so fond of the baby - she'd wrapped him around her little finger instantly.

Yawning, the baby girl shut her eyes, and snuggled into Jesse's chest contently. After a few moments, it became obvious to the two boys that she was sleeping.

"She'll wake up when I give her the milk" Jesse shrugged. "So, Jaden, what do you think of her?"

"She's beautiful."

"I know, right?" Jesse gently hugged the tiny baby, and then glanced over at his friend. He smiled. "You want to hold her?"

"What?" Jaden exclaimed, startled. "Eh … I don't … I don't know how." He smiled sadly. "I've never held a baby before."

"Seriously? I never had that problem - I was the eldest of six." Jesse smiled sadly, and Jaden realised that Jesse probably missed his family. The bluenette turned back, though, and smiled at his friend. "Doesn't matter, though. It's easy to hold a baby, especially when she's asleep. Just let her lean against you, and support her head."

He then passed the baby to Jaden's lap, while Jaden awkwardly tried to hold the baby in his arms as best he could. He couldn't find a comfortable way to lean the baby against his chest, but after a moment or two, Jesse leaned over and arranged his arms so that he could comfortably hold the child.

The tiny baby didn't even stir when she was passed over to Jaden and he grinned proudly as he held her.

"She's so cute!"

Jesse just laughed with his friend, and that was when Blair returned. The two boys looked up at their friend as she entered the room. They fell silent on seeing her, however, because Blair was ghostly pale and her hands appeared to be shaking.

"Jaden …" She had apparently heard his name from Jesse. "You have to go home now. Get yourself down the servants stairs and out of the house, quickly!"

"What? Why?"

"Blair, what's wrong?" Jesse asked urgently, getting to his feet.

"Jesse, the butler's come back from his trip. He's got a fever. It would be better for Jaden to go now. Before the authorities fear plague."

Jaden, shaking with fright, handed the baby over to Jesse and got to his feet. He stumbled on his way to the door and grabbed hold of the doorframe to stop himself from falling. Then he was vaguely aware that he was crying, and then even more vaguely aware of Jesse giving the baby over to Blair and taking his arm. He turned around at the contact, however, and stared at the worried green eyes.

"Don't be scared, Jaden. The master's butler takes fever easily, I'm sure it will be nothing at all. Just a sweating fever at the most" Jesse said, smiling uneasily. "I'll show you out, come on."

Jaden was taken down a staircase and out several doors before they reached one which led out into the outdoor world. Jesse turned to him and smiled.

"I hope I can see you again soon."

"Jesse, it's not plague that your butler has … right?"

"I'm sure it's not. He's a fat old sow and is always ill."

"But if it was, how would I see you?"

Jesse laughed here.

"You'd come round to the back window of the nursery and I'd speak to you from there" he said simply but then he sighed. "But it won't be the plague, Jaden, so there's no need to be so scared."

"I'm afraid something might happen to you."

"The same could happen to you just as easily, Jay, and I'm not happy with that" Jesse said softly. "So just promise me that you'll … be careful."

"Sure."

"Promise it and mean it!"

"I promise, Jess."

"Right."

Jesse seemed to hesitate but then he took Jaden's hand nervously and held it. Jaden almost flinched - why was Jesse so nervous? But of course, two men in contact such as holding hands was forbidden and shameful in the year of 1665. Jesse raised one eyebrow at Jaden, who closed his fingers firmly around Jesse's. Jaden grinned and nodded, realising what the bluenette was silently asking. Jesse grinned slightly, realising that the brunette had the same sexual preferences as he did.

"Take care of yourself, Jaden." He let go of his hand. "I'll see you soon."

Jaden nodded and smiled at Jesse, looking into his green eyes happily, before running out the door and back home.

Please R&R