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Chapter Three

There was something familiar about this painting that Joey was looking at, then it hit him, this was almost like the one that was hanging in the Manor, the one Roland had painted, but why would Jasper have a painting here in his house? Did he know Roland, if he did then he must also know Seto and Mokuba?

Joey was about to ask him about it, when there was a knock on the door and when Jasper went to see whom it was, he said, "That must be our dinner." Joey decided to let it go until after they'd gotten through eating.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jasper saw Joseph looking at the painting, and he knew that he would ask him about it, and he was ready to tell him about the artist, but when he didn't Jasper decided to leave it alone.

While they were eating, Jasper was trying to figure out how to talk to Joseph about how he knew who he was and why he agreed to help him, but he couldn't think of anything to say. When they were done eating, Joey said, "Who painted that painting, it looks familiar to me."

Jasper took a deep breath and he said, "Someone I use to know painted that for me as a birthday present, a long time ago."

Joey decided to throw caution to the wind and he said, "When were you going to tell me that you knew Roland?"

Jasper looked down at his plate and he said, "Will you please let me explain, when Greg first called me and told me about you, I didn't know that you were living at the Manor, until later when Roland called."

"What the hell did he want?" Joseph asked.

Jasper then said, "He called and said that you were coming to New York and he wanted me to keep an eye on you, but he never said why."

Jasper then knew from the tone of his voice that something had happened and Joseph wanted to put it all behind him. Then Jasper said, "Roland and I use to be lovers, it was years before Gozaburo adopted Seto and Mokuba. When they first went to live in the Manor, Roland was thinking of retiring and we were going to move here and start our lives together, but that wasn't to be.

Gozaburo knew what buttons to push to get Roland to change his mind and stay in Domino and help him raise the boys and that meant that we would have to put our lives on hold, well I wasn't going to wait, I told him that if he wanted to stay, I was going to leave. I wanted to move to New York and resume my career and if it meant that we'd have to break up, then so be it.

Well as you can see, I'm living here alone and Roland is still living in Domino, don't get me wrong those two young men are great, but I wanted something more out of our relationship then just staying there, so I left."

Joey stood up and walked over to the book case and as he looked at the books he said, "I guess we have more in common then loving to paint, Seto and I were lovers or so I thought. I loved him, but I guess it wasn't enough, so I decided to pack my things and leave Domino before I said or did something that I would regret for the rest of my life."

"I guess that you'll want to find another place to stay now." Jasper said.

Joey turned around and he said, "No, no I want to stay and learn if painting is in my future. Just because I found out that we have more in common doesn't mean that I have to put my life on hold, I did that enough and I'm not willing to do it again."

Jasper got up and walked over to Joey, he held out his hand, and he said, "You're welcome to stay here as long as you want; I promise that I don't have any other surprises."

Joey laughed and shook his hand and then he said, "What's for dessert?"

They laughed and Jasper said, "I guess we'd better get some sleep, tomorrow I want to show you my Gallery." They cleaned up the kitchen and as they walked up the stairs, Joseph said, "When will they be arriving?"

Jasper told him, "In three days."

When they got to Joseph's room, he said, "What time do you want to leave in the morning?"

Jasper said, "Around nine, see you in the morning." Then he walked off. When Joey closed the door he walked over to the other side of the room, lifted the cover from the canvas and he began painting, he wanted to get it done before morning he wanted to show it to Jasper and see what he thought.

When Jasper got to his room, he closed he door and stood there looking around and then he went over to the dresser and picked up the frame that held the picture of himself and Roland.

It was the one when that was taken on his birthday; he put it down and got ready for bed, no use crying over spilt milk, he couldn't change what happened. He put it down and went to bed.

When Joey was through painting, he stood back and looked at it and thought to himself, now maybe I can get on with my life.

The next morning when Joseph went downstairs, he found Jasper in the kitchen and he said, "Good morning."

Jasper smiled and said, "What would you like for breakfast?"

Joseph said, "Is there anything left over from dinner?"

Jasper got up, went to the refrigerator, got out the leftovers, and put them in the microwave and as they were eating, Joey said, "There's a painting in my room, I wonder if you'll look at it and let me know what you think about it."

Jasper told him, "Alright, after we're done eating I'd love to see it."

When they were done and the kitchen was cleaned up, they walked back upstairs and when Joey uncovered the painting, Jasper walked over and as he looked at it, he said couldn't take his eyes off the painting. It was so hauntingly beautiful. He looked at Joey and said, "I've never seen anything like this before, why did you paint it this way?"

The painting was of a young man standing with his back to a huge mansion, in the background there was a silhouette of a man standing there with his hand out and the man in the foreground was walking away.

Joey was over by the window and he turned around and told Jasper, "I don't really know, all I know is that when it was done I felt as if I had finally left that part of my life behind and was walking towards a new one."

Jasper then asked him, "What's going to happen when they get here, how are you going to handle the situation?"

Joey shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'll cross that bridge when it gets here, when do you want to leave for the Gallery?"

Jasper understood how he was feeling and he left it at that and said, "When you're ready let me know." Then Jasper left, and Joey started to get the painting ready, and he walked downstairs and they left.

Please R&R..

Chapter Four Coming Up..