A/N: I am so busy, but thank goodness for summer! I can write more and in turn you all can read more. Thank you Nightingale for being so kind and mentioning me, I love you, too friend, more than you will ever know! Well, I hate how little this is being read for the shear fact that I try so hard on it while some people who write like 4th graders have like 86 reviews and stuff. I am not naming names but I think it's absolute shit. Just saying. Good thing that this person who shall remain unnamed doesn't read my stuff or maybe they would pick up on my hostility toward them, but I digress. Well all my love and feelings that those few who read are amazin'!

Marik had fallen asleep in Mariku's arms after thinking through everything that had transpired. In the hours that he lay there, rigid and in pain, he thought. Thought about Mariku. Their nights together before everything happened. Their spat and when he ran off to Feline. The man (more like monster) that he met there. The awful night he had with Bakura and how bruised he still was. When Isis revealed that he was three months pregnant with Mariku's child. All of this and more coursed through his cluttered and troubled mind.

He awoke to find Mariku's side of the bed empty. He worried slightly and arose with fear in his heart. He hoped that Mariku hadn't just skipped out on him, he wouldn't blame him, but still. They were going to have a child together! A living, breathing, pooping human being! Or so he hoped that it would be "together".

His unsteady feet touched the cool floor and he began to stumble out of the bedroom and into the hallway leading toward the kitchen. He had to steady himself against the wall, his world tilting wildly with every step, head throbbing. He hated the feeling that waking up pregnant and slightly battered left him filled with. It was like his head was packed with sand and he was drowning in the ocean. Sickness and pain his regular company beneath the dark waves.

He found his lover at the kitchen table looking up at him in sadness and worry. Mariku arose from his seat and strode over to Marik to help him to a chair.

"You should've stayed in bed, what if you had fallen or passed out on the way?" Mariku had a very frightful tone to his voice.

"I-I was worried- I mean I wanted to see where you'd gone. I woke up and you weren't there." Marik frowned and hoped that Mariku didn"t notice what he nearly said.

Mariku looked to the side and frowned, knowing that Marik nearly accused him of leaving. Who did he think he was? But then again, he had thought about it for hours last night. A volley of conflicting thoughts pinging around inside his mind. Should he stay or should he go? On one hand he had been cheated on but on the other he knew Marik was sorry and he loved him with everything he had and to top it all off, Marik was carrying his unborn child. Obviously the decision was to stay, but the temptation to leave was ever-present.

"Well," Mariku whispered as he sat the boy down in the chair, "I'm right here. If I'm never in a room with you or somewhere else in the apartment, just remember I will be back." Mariku said a bit louder and smiled sadly at the ground.

Marik smiled a very similar smile, but directly at his lover. He was glad that he had Mariku's word on not leaving, but there would be that worry for a good while until he felt completely sure. Sure that Mariku wouldn't abandon him.

Mariku looked up slowly and looked into the boys eyes, seeing the sadness and regret that weighed on him constantly. He reached over and took Marik's hand and held in each of his, stroking the back of it sweetly. He wanted him to know that he wasn't going to ditch him. Sure, he'd considered it, but he never would - never could!

"Marik?"

"Hmm?" Marik's eyes showed that he was in the moment, not off in his awful memories.

"I forgive you and know that I will not leave." Mariku's voice broke as he finished the sentence, he hated that they had to suffer this awful test. The news of a child should have been exciting, but the events that took place before they knew about the baby had tainted the joy.

Marik felt his eyes well with tears. Hope roiled inside of him. His voice was weak as he answered, "Thank you..."

They sat quietly for what seemed like a long time until Mariku stood suddenly, straightening and shaking off the tension he held just between his shoulder blades. "I'll make breakfast, go sit on the couch." He smiled, but it didn't touch his eyes. Marik was glad that he was making an effort to move forward with at least some normality.

~~~~~ 4 Months Pregnant~~~~~

Mariku laughed as he watched his lover take off his shirt and pants to get in bed.

"Look at that little baby bump!"

"Oh shut up!" Marik placed his hands over the bump reflexively. "You aren't the one slowly losing your perfect waist! What if I can't show my midriff ever again?"

Marik grinned jokingly, but honestly worried that his body would be negatively affected. He knew it would be well worth it, but hoped that in this situation he could have his cake and eat it, too. He would love to be able to go back to his normal physique after the baby was born.

Mariku smirked at him playfully and opened his arms for him to crawl in. As Marik lay within his arms, he pulled him close and nuzzled his neck. "None of that matters, you'll still be just as beautiful to me. Besides, you get the gift of life out of it, sure it would be nice for you to be able to look the same, but that doesn't matter to me, Hababi."

Marik blushed a deep red high on his cheeks and hoped that Mariku was telling the truth.

As Mariku lay sweet kisses at the nape of his neck, Marik thought back to a month before and how horrid it had been. Things got really hard, but with the effort they had put into it, the relationship had repaired itself and they were back to how things used to be. Sure there were some differences, but whatever. Marik was pregnant and partying and just spending nights together drinking and what not had ended. Things had changed, but not for the worse by any means.

Marik sighed happily, glad that they had overcome the terrible thing that had occurred. He still awoke in the middle of night, because of dreams of that awful night. His mind had begun to expand on how bad it was and at times he feared sleep. The Bakura that lay deep within his mind was an absolute monster, that of the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer or Dean Corll. By no means did Marik have the evidence to prove that he was, but the mind is a scary place.

Mariku looked up from his kisses and saw the look on Marik's face. The one that showed he was thinking of his awful dreams. Bakura hadn't just hurt and slept with his lover, he'd planted fear and regret deep within his mind. The nights that he awoke with a start due to the sound of Marik's cries were the worst. He had nightmares that shook him for days. When Mariku would ask what happened in them Marik would seal his lips tight, not wanting to tell of the horror that had plagued him moments before.

He let him have his moments, though. He knew it was hard for him and he just lay there with him, holding him and silently supporting his lover.

"Mariku," Marik whispered meakly, "I'm glad we're back to normal. I just wish I could adjust faster." Marik frowned and hid his face by pressing it into the mattress.

"Shh, don't say that. You were assaulted and anyone would be negatively affected for a while from something like that. It was traumatic for you, you have regret and fear. It will get better, just stay calm and remember it isn't real and it will never happen again." Mariku kissed Marik just beneath his ear and lay his head on the boy's.

Marik sighed softly knowing that Mariku was right and slowly let the thought's of the past drift away. He grew less rigid and finally realized how exhausted he was. He yawned and turned to look into his lover's eyes.

Mariku kissed the boy's cheek and lay back allowing the boy to lay on his chest. They talked about everything ranging from baby name ideas to what they would do for breakfast the next day. Finally, Marik drifted off and Mariku smiled at his sleepy boyfriend. He wrapped his arms tighter around Marik and drifted off as well.

~~~~~ The Next Morning ~~~~~

Mariku awoke a looked down at Marik, sleeping soundly on his chest. He chuckled softly and lay there playing with the boy's hair. Everything really was much better between them.

"Hababi." He whispered as he gazed upon Marik. He had always been mesmerized by how beautiful the boy was. Now that things were improving, he didn't see the boy as a cheater. He knew for certain he hadn't gone out just to have a bit of an affair.

He suddenly felt the need to pull Marik in as close as possible and pulled him slowly up so that his head was on Mariku's shoulder. His body lay on top of Mariku's and he smiled at the boy. All was right in that moment. Nothing was wrong in Mariku's world. The one he loved was in his arms. Their child was slowly developing within his lover.

Marik's eyes fluttered open and he looked up into Mariku's eyes. Tears fell freely from them, but a smile was paint across his bronze face.

"I love you so much..." Mariku had suddenly felt so much emotion. He was happy and in such a deep love with someone, a love unbounded by any other love he had ever experienced, a love so intense that he had begun to cry.

"I love you too, baby. Are you alright?"

"I-I'm perfect. How did you sleep?"

"Really well and I'm glad. I was worried for a sec."

Mariku laughed and wiped his eyes. Marik smiled brightly and had a childlike giddy gleam in his eyes. He knew that things were as they should be.

A/N: No. One. Is. Reading. This. I'm upset really. Well I hope those of you who are reading this did enjoy this chapter. Bye...