Disclaimer: Ok, I don't own anything, but my insane words.

Chapter six: I love you

Joey took a step into his sister's room and grabbed his chest with both hands; his breathing came in small gasps. "Seto the bed, the bed is empty!"

His eyes closed and a strangled scream rose from his throat almost reaching the space pass his lips. Two warm hands covered his own and pressed gently on his chest and in the process held him close. Too close for mere friends, their relationship was much more. "Look Joey, by the glass doors on the terrace," Seto's comforting voice sang out for Joey's ears only; his warm breath caressed the boy's neck. Seto turned the distraught blond to the glass doors leading out to the open space and there bathing in the sunlight of early morning the outline of two figures glowed.

"Serenity," Joey sighed. He reached for Seto's hand automatically and walked slowly to the outside terrace. Serenity rested comfortably in Mokuba's arms. Neither a smile or frown betrayed her emotions, just a quite peace surround her presence. Serenity's eyes were closed but from the look of utter joy on Mokuba's face and the slight blush on his cheeks, it was obvious he just finished talking to her.

"Joey, she's asleep. I should have called you when Serenity first opened her eyes." Mokuba sighed and adjusted the girl's head deeper into the folds of his arm. He was not ready to let the girl go. "Joey, your name; those were her first words, and next she asked me, why?"

"Why?" spoke Joey.

"Why am I here? Those were Serenity's words to me." Mokuba sighed. "I said because you are loved and it was not meant for us to pass on."

Fear filled Joey's eyes and he passed his unanswered questions silently to Seto. But to Mokuba he spoke, "Mokuba you don't think this is over?"

"No Joey's it is not like that, I promise," Mokuba voice rose in volume to offer assurance this would not happen again.

"Seto," the words whispered left Joey's lips. He did not know if his mind was playing tricks on him. Joey had started to believe as much as Seto did; which meant Serenity would never return. He was beginning to except that fact and that is why it was so easy to shower all his hatred on Seto. Seto became his worst nightmare, but he could not get through a day without his support, 'Hell he'd laugh if he knew how much I needed him.' Joey thought.

"Joey, Serenity wants to know why she is alive and what will become of her life now. It was at that moment she asked if you understood what had happened, and why she wanted to go to hell. She's not your angel." Mokuba glanced at his brother; he stood inches away from Joey, ready to catch the blond who stood trembling.

"It's OK, you can touch Serenity she's real but I don't think it is safe for her to be here." Mokuba sounded so calm and sure of his beliefs that the older boys listened. Yet both Seto and Joey were still frozen on the spot, so shaken by their own personal demons. Deep down neither believed this day would end with any sort of happiness.

Seto had prepared himself to shoulder all the tears and insults from his past and from Joey; the other knew he could fill the others cold heart with guilt and shame at his actions. This was the plan and now that was shot to hell. The two boys were forced into something close to happiness; so what will we fight over now?

"It's so cold,"Serenity whispered to Mokuba. "Will you hold me just like you did at the house?" Her eyes were still closed, but Serenity knew that they were not alone. "Make everyone go away, please." She pouted and squeezed her eyes even tighter in hopes of making everything disappear.

"No, I won't!" Adamantly he spoke. Mokuba looked up at the tears mirrored in Joey's eyes. He watched as Nii-sama held the blond's hand as gently as he supported the weary boy's body with his own. Yes there were times in the past year he held him close, but these actions were very natural. 'its love and neither one is aware of the other's feelings,' Thought the bemused teen.

With a little push from Seto, Joey moved closer lured by the sound of his sister's voice. It had been over a year since he had heard it. He begged with tear filled eyes to touch his sister yet the uncertainty that filled his heart kept him away. She was so frail and yet very much at peace as Mokuba held her just right. It pained Joey to see Serenity nestled in the arms of another when every muscle ached in his body to hold her close. 'Too much is at stake,' he silently cried, 'I've got to let go, I'm so useless,' he thought.' All the color drained from his face and now the unanswered questions were directed at Mokuba. "What should I do now?"

Mokuba thought about Serenity's last words, "What we did at the house was selfish. We caused so much pain and suffering for others, Serenity. I never want to hurt Seto like that again, it was cruel." Mokuba shifted his gray orbs to Seto whose gaze never left Joey. "I've learned I trust in Nii-sama's love without question and it's when I am at my worst he loved me the hardest and it hurts. I know Joey is the same. Even if we are so selfish, it's wrong to rob our brothers of the right to be the rock of strength in our lives, just because we don't like what they have to say." Mokuba beckoned Joey to come closer. "Don't be afraid to let Joey love you."

Serenity turned towards the soft sounds coming from her brother's mouth. She knew he was close. Slowly her eyes opened.

The boy started to tremble and Seto moved in closer to his side, he could not control his emotion towards Joey, they ran too deep. Every fiber screamed in Seto's body to get Joey out of the room, even though his sister was his salvation. Protectively Seto leaned in close and allowed Joey the comfort of his chest to lean on. Seto could feel the heat from his back and the sweat from the boy's neck. 'If I could just hold him, touch him . . . . 'Seto shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair, while Joey squeezed his other hand tightly; his only support was the tall blue-eyed boy.

"Mokuba, help me to understand." Finally the words each spoken carefully slipped out of Joey's mouth. "I don't want to lose my sister." Joey was not above pleading. Serenity eyes glassy and filled with fear locked in on his filled with compassion and concern.

"B . . . Big Brother, please don't hate me. I'm so sorry. . ." the rest of the sentence stayed lodged in the back of her dry throat.

"Serenity don't speak, just let me hold you in my arms," Joey whispered. "That will be enough, just let me hold you close."

The fragile girl nodded and reached for Joey, God how she had missed him, "Big Brother, help me!"

This time the blond did not need any help from the tall one, he gently took Serenity from Mokuba and walked the few yards to the bed and whispered words of endearment to the broken child, before he set down.

Nurses and doctors rushed into the room but the only thing visible was the joy displayed by a family recovering from a long period of grief.

"It's a miracle," Cried one nurse.

Seto blocked the doctor from approaching the bed and asked that the brother and sister be allowed at least a minute or two alone. He directed everyone out including Mokuba. One glance over his shoulder to make sure his desire was ok and Seto left the room. If one looked close, you could see the small tears gathering in his eyes.

'This is far from over, now the real trouble begins,' Seto thought. He looked down at Mokuba and wondered when he became so damn wise. 'Will it be enough?'

"Come on Nii-sama, I'll treat you to a coffee and we can wait for Joey at the nurse's station down the hall." Mokuba took his brother's arm and pulled him toward a lounge across the hall. Reluctantly Seto followed.

"Seto, I want to know. Are you in love with Joey?" Mokuba pretended to be innocent in his inquire.

Seto's almost dropped his coffee cup, but managed to guide it safely to the small table between the two brothers. He locked eyes with his inquisitive brother and frowned.

Mokuba just smiled and waited while his brother calmed his racing heart and thought of something clever to say.

Oooooooo

Thanks, and see you in chapter 7, it only gets better, but the healing has only just begun……