Chapter LXVI: Kissing You

Hello again, Darkness Falls readers. No, Peach didn't forget about this series. I never do. And one way or another, I was determined to finish it. As some of you who talk to me privately probably know by now, my life has gotten more and more complicated. While I continued to work on DF with my co-authors, I found very little time to edit what we wrote. And with Lobo's schedule in college, our work time was compromised. I still have 15animefreak15 and Lobo working with me, but this chapter was a collaboration between Ani and myself.

Thanks so much, everyone, for waiting for us to continue! So let's get this show back on track! Last time, Jaden and Alexis enjoyed the change in their relationship while the rest of the gang enjoyed varied states of rest and relaxation. So what's next? Read on!

Legal disclaimer and authors' notes: As usual, we don't own anything but our ideas, this version of the Yugi-verse and our OCs. If this were canon, we'd be rich. But it's not. Thanks for remembering that.

Warning: Rather racy scene here, but nothing that goes beyond the bounds of the M rating. Thank you for your attention.

Later in the day, as the sun was drifting lower in the clouds, Bastion returned briefly to the infirmary. As he sat on an exam table, he found himself doing something that he hadn't done since riding the trains as a little boy; his legs swung back and forth. And then the fingers on his left hand drummed the table's surface. It was unbecoming of his age, but it was understandable given the circumstances. "Well, Bastion, your blood work looks really good," Alex Nakamura smiled. "Fonda and Scout confirmed it and I think you and Violet can leave the infirmary this evening."

Bastion took a look up at the skylight, where the sunset light played. "Wonderful. We can still enjoy the evening, can't we, Violet?"

Violet grinned, interlocking her fingers with Bastion's and squeezing his hand. "Of course! We got all night to spend together and for once it won't be in the infirmary!" She giggled a bit. "I'm so excited that you're finally all better, Bastion-baby!"

"Very close," Bastion answered at the warning look from Alex. "I suppose I'll still have to rest a bit to be certain I'm fit in a few weeks, but I'm almost there, love. Perhaps tonight we can enjoy a nice dinner in our room or on the balcony?"

Violet sent a sheepish grin at the doctor, then nodded eagerly at Bastion's question. "Yeah, that's perfect! I can make us a really romantic dinner and it'll be just the two of us, no doctors or nurses or anything!" Her mind was already racing ahead, thinking of what she had on hand. In the time it took to get from the infirmary to the Obelisk dorm, she'd have her entire menu planned.

"Tired of our company already?" Scout Rhodes joked, her brown eyes sparkling with mirth. She knew their expression all too well. While patients and their families were nearly always grateful, they couldn't hide that they didn't want to see her again for a long time.

"Not at... well... it's been a long month," Bastion admitted. He knew she got that look a great deal. Heck, he'd seen said look on patients that his father had treated.

Violet sweat-dropped, unaware she had "the Look" on her face. "Yeah, uh, I mean I love hanging out with you guys and everything, but after the last year or so…. Well, can you blame us for being a little sick of hospital stuff?"

"Of course not, sweetie. Besides, you kids have a wedding to plan, right?" In her head, Scout thought, Atticus Lee Rhodes, so help me if you give your best friend a stag party while there are minor children involved...!

Violet's eyes widened and she smacked her forehead. "Holy cheese! With all the stuff going on this past month, I completely forgot about the wedding planning!"

"Well, darling... it's only been a couple of days since we offered," Bastion chuckled. And then his face went white. "Oh, my goodness. How long do we have to plan Zane and Jackie's wedding, anyhow?"

"Uh, ah, um... Scout?" Violet asked hopefully, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Yes, Violet?" And then Scout realized. "Oh, honey, Darla and I have already been chatting about this. She's honestly glad you kids all offered to help."

Violet grinned. "Well duh! Of course we'd help, Zane's our friend and Jackie seems really nice. I mean heck, if she could get Zane to act all mushy then she gets a gold star in my book."

"This isn't easy for him," Scout sighed.

"Of course it isn't!" Bastion said, his gray eyes flashing. "Her dad called her a whore!" While he hadn't been there for the actual call, Bastion's friends had filled him in.

"No dad should talk to their kids like that. I hope he realizes how stupid he was and apologizes, or else he probably shouldn't even attend the wedding," Violet agreed, crossing her arms over her chest with a pout.

"No, he shouldn't," Scout answered calmly. "She's not… that word. And she and Zane are committed to each other. But there are still some who keep to the old ways."

Violet sighed. "I guess it's mostly up to Jackie and Zane for how they want to handle it with their wedding."

Alex, who'd stepped out for a moment, came back into the room with Bastion's wheelchair. "You kids'll have your hands full either way. If your friends are getting married here, it'll be expensive to get a caterer on such short notice, dresses and suits..."

Violet jumped to help Bastion into the wheelchair, even if he probably felt he did not need it. "Caterers? Forget that! If anyone's making food for my wedding, shared or not, it's gonna be me. Or at least include me. Not some crappy catering food!"

Bastion gladly took her arm. "Violet darling, you are going to make me fat."

"Well, you still need to gain weight, Bastion," Alex said, glancing at the young man's thin arms. "You are still way too thin. Violet, you have my permission to stuff your fiancé!"

Violet's grin turned a bit wicked, the gears already turning in her head. "I'll need to get out my old notes from culinary class... Bastion-baby, by our wedding you're gonna have meat on those bones, whether you like it or not!"

"I believe I shall like it very much," he grinned back.

"Thank you, doctors. Shall I see you tomorrow?"

"You shall," Alex answered. "I've got to check you again to be sure you're all right, Bastion. Then you'll be free of me soon enough."

See you kids later!" Scout called as they rolled out of the room.

"The sweet scent of freedom... or is that floor polish?" Bastion said as he and his beloved went out into the quiet hallway.

Violet giggled. "Well I haven't fallen on my face yet, so I don't think it's floor polish. Just wait until we get outside! Then it'll be real freedom. You haven't been outside in forever..."

"Well, we were outside earlier," he answered. "The air's warmer, I can already feel it. And we know it rained today." Bastion could almost smell the slightly damp grass in the summer air.

"Yeah! That means I can push you through puddles! It'll be just like driving through them but probably a lot messier!" she cheered, stepping onto the back of his wheelchair to ride down the wheelchair ramp.

"Violet!" That was all Bastion got out as the ramp flew by and under him as they careened downstairs to the main entrance floor over the seal.

"Whee! Bastion, put your hands in the air! I think we've got enough momentum to make it out— Hold those doors!" she shouted at Professor Ginsberg, who was heading outside.

Professor Ginsburg dove quickly to the side, holding the door open. "Whoa... You got a mean machine there!" he called out as they blew by.

"Thanks! Just wait 'til it gets the flames!" Violet called over her shoulder, waving. As they continued rolling out the doors, however, she blinked in realization. "Hey, doesn't a hill lead up to the school...?"

"Not on Monster Row," Bastion said as they slowed down. But thanks to their momentum, the couple zoomed to the end of Monster Row and right to the hill. "Oh, bloody… ahhh!"

Violet tensed and gripped the handles. "Oh my gosh! Hang on, I'm gonna—!" Before she could even finish her sentence, the heel she'd been lowering to try and stop the wheelchair sent up a spray of mud, splattering the both of them. She quickly retracted it and gulped. "Bastion-baby, I don't know how to stop!"

"Put your feet down!" he shouted, heart pounding. Even with the terror, he was still feeling more alive than he'd felt in a month.

"I already- okay!" Violet squeezed her eyes shut and dropped both of her feet down. It took only seconds for both of them to be covered in mud, and the wheelchair had not slowed an inch due to the slippery slope. "I told you!"

"Violet, lean to the left!" They were heading toward the cliff.

"I'm too crazy to die!" Violet screamed, nearly throwing herself off the wheelchair because of how hard she leaned left. However, it did the trick, the wheelchair veering around to follow the path and not sending them falling to a watery grave. It also sent out what could basically be called a tidal wave of mud.

At that very moment, Aster Phoenix had, with Scout's permission, taken a walk away from the Obelisk dorms by himself. He reveled in the smell of the salty ocean breeze and the feel of the wind ruffling his white-blonde hair. It was nice to be out in the warm evening by himself after being stuck in a bedroom for a day and a half. He heard the scream and turned, only to see the wall of mud. "Aw...!" Squoosh! He was coated from head to foot in the mucky stuff, leaving a pair of bright blue eyes visible.

Violet craned her neck in an effort to see who the poor soul was, but they were already too far away due to their speed. "Bastion-baby, I think someone's going to be really mad at us later," she laughed weakly.

"Oh, boy. No idea who it was?" he asked as they turned toward Obelisk Blue.

Violet shook her head, sending some mud flying. "Nope. Too much mud, too far away. But hey, I doubt anyone else would be out here at this time, so I don't think there should be any more casualties!"

Oh, how wrong she was. As they coasted toward the Blue dorms, Vellian was just heading out the gate. "It's such a lovely evening. Too bad Pat's not here with me," he murmured. Pat would have so enjoyed a stroll around the grounds, clad in that…. He was startled out of his reverie when he heard a scream.

Violet's eyes practically rolled out of their sockets. "Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap—Doctor C, duck!" she called, waving an arm wildly as the wheelchair careened towards the professor. Vellian dived exceedingly fast. Violet sighed in relief. "That was— Oh my God, a squirrel!" One of the critters had hopped into their path, so she quickly leaned, missing the rodent only to run over the now-grounded Vellian Crowler instead.

Somehow, Vellian only ended up with muddy tire tracks on his back. "How do those kids do it?" he wondered out loud as the saved squirrel ran onto his head.

After rolling through the gate and down the footpath, the wheelchair finally managed to come to a perfect stop in front of the main doors. Violet blinked, stepping down fully from her perch and looking back over her shoulder. One could almost see the desolation they had left in their wake, if the mud coating everything to the right and left of the path was anything to go by. "...Wow."

"Darling, I think we should shower before supper," Bastion said, noting the mud splatters all over themselves.

"Bastion-baby, that's one of the best ideas you've ever had. At least there's no one in the building really to see us like this... I can just imagine the questions," Violet replied as she pushed him normally through the doors and over to the elevators.

"Thank God it's just our friends here," Bastion laughed as the elevator started to close.

"Hold the door!" a male voice shouted. "Sorry," Yusuke Fujiwara called, getting in. "I have to head up and get my surfing gear. You got out today finally, huh, guys?"

Violet chuckled sheepishly, scratching some mud from her cheek. "Er, yeah... let's just say Bastion's second trip out of the infirmary was a wild ride..."

Yusuke looked them up and down and laughed. "If I didn't know better, I'd say Atticus was behind this!"

"You didn't even see us run over Crowler out by the gate," Violet whispered conspiratorially, as if Vellian could hear them. It took a lot to get used to the fact that the teacher could no longer place them in detention.

Yusuke laughed again. "I've missed so much! Good thing I have this summer to catch up!" He was looking forward to returning to the mainland and to the Rhodes' big house. He and Atticus would celebrate together, and when the fall came, he, Yusuke, would return to Duel Academy with those in the lost class of 2017 that wanted to finish their educations. But right now, he and Atticus were about to catch up on an old rivalry.

"Well, if you really feel that left out, here!" Violet promptly scraped a handful of mud from her arm and slapped Yusuke on the back with it. "Welcome to the club!"

"Glad to be here. Hey, do you know if Atticus has ever managed to handstand on his board?" the Obelisk soon-to-be junior asked. He had to know if Atticus had actually managed it. If he hadn't, Yusuke still had a shot at winning the bet.

"I haven't seen it. Violet?" Bastion asked, frankly bewildered. Why did Yusuke have an almost predatory expression on his face?

Violet considered a few seconds. "I don't think so. But then he surfs a lot on his own when no one else wants to go to the beach with him."

"Then I'll just have to see unless Zaney knows," Yusuke grinned. The door opened onto the right floor and the kids exited. The elder boy raced down the hall toward his room, that odd, excited expression still very plain on his face.

Violet rolled Bastion down the hall and to the suite they shared with Annie and Sy. "Home at last," he breathed as she moved to the door.

"Yup. Now we can get that nice, hot shower and after that I'll get dinner going. Plus all the mud dried so we won't track any into the room! Yay!" Violet whooped as she opened the door and pushed Bastion into their shared room for the first time in a long while.

He took a long look around the room where they'd shared so much joy for almost a year. "It's quiet. Annie and Sy must not be back yet," he said.

She giggled. "Good. They can't tease us about all this mud." Violet pushed Bastion into their bedroom and sighed, moving around to stand in front of him instead of behind. "Now the room feels whole again."

He held out his arms to her and hugged her close. Bastion's body had definitely thinned over the past month he'd been in the infirmary, but his hug was still very strong. "I missed being here with you, Violet. I thought we'd never have this again. When you were gone, this room was so empty." The events of Darkness were still fresh with him.

Violet felt her eyes sting with the threat of tears and quickly squeezed them shut, burying herself against him as much as she could. "I... I'm sorry, Bastion. If I hadn't listened to him, th-then... then you would've been okay and wouldn't have almost died, a-and wouldn't be in this wheelchair, and..." Her breath hitched and her fingers dug into the back of his shirt.

He pulled her close. "Shhh... darling, don't do that to yourself. It wasn't your fault. You had demons as I did. As so many of us did. You and I both have faced them, though. And after this... we've beaten the worst..."

She sniffed, scrubbing at the tears forming in her eyes as she nodded. "I-I know, Bastion, you're r-right... I need to stop blaming myself." She drew a shaky breath and managed a watery smile, kissing his nose- pretty much the only bit of his face not mud-stained. "I love you..." But he just drew her to him in a very loving kiss, disregarding the mud. It would probably have been romantic in some cheesy movie way had the mud not been dry, itchy and very, very uncomfortable. She giggled as the kiss broke, sticking out her tongue. "That was great, but you taste like dirt, Bastion-baby."

"Then let's get it off. Ladies first," Bastion said, smiling.

Violet smiled back, starting to hop about and tug off her shoes until a thought seemed to hit her and she paused. Smile turning a bit mischievous, she placed her hands sensually on her hips. "Hey Bastion, you know, we're both really muddy, and we should try and conserve water, so. . . ." She even managed an eyebrow waggle, which was a bit more comical than sexy.

Bastion blinked, stunned. What on Earth has come over her? Is she actually…? And then a smile broke out on his face. Must've been the long month. That and we should have been on our honeymoon by now. "Violet love, are you thinking what I think you're thinking? If you are, I'm game."

Violet's smile morphed into an almost manic grin as she grabbed Bastion's hands, tugging him up and out of the wheelchair. "Seriously? Yay! Our first shower together, it's like some sort of step up the intimacy ladder of love!" She blinked and then scrunched up his nose. "Okay, that sounded way too much like something Atticus would say."

Bastion started to laugh. "It surprises me that we haven't done this before, though."

She stopped, blinking a few times. "Hey, wait. Are we the only couple not to have bathed together yet?"

"Well..." Bastion thought carefully. "I don't think Rosa and Tyson really have..."

Violet's smile returned in an instant. "Yes! Then they can be the oddballs out, ha ha! Let's go!" she exclaimed, half-dragging him into the bathroom and making sure to lock the door behind them.

Bastion swallowed, still smiling. "This is going to be fun, love..."

Violet blushed a little. "Y-yeah, fun... Uh, so... d-do we get undressed at the same time, or... or are you going to need help...?"

"I think I can manage," he answered, steadying himself on a towel bar.

"R-right. S-so then, I guess we should just... get undressed. Y-yeah." Violet coughed into her hand, then hesitantly tugged her pink T-shirt up and over her head, letting it drop to the floor.

Bastion got his very loose t-shirt off as well as well as his shorts and boxers. It had been a long time since Violet had seen him this undressed. The mud shaded the hollows in his cheeks and the over-slimness of his arms and legs.

Her eyes widened as she moved forward and gently slid her hands down his sides. "Oh, Bastion," she murmured, hated how much the bones in his hips jutted out.

"You'll set me right again, love, I know you will," he said.

She looked up at him and smiled softly, placing a hand on his cheek. "You're still handsome to me, Bastion-baby. You always will be, no matter what."

"And you will always be the beautiful woman you are right now," he answered, a hand on her shoulder.

She blushed a little, just enjoying having him so close to her and not in life-threatening danger for a moment. "All right. This mud isn't getting any more comfortable, so I guess we should get in that shower." Violet quickly slipped out of her remaining clothing and pulled the scrunchie out of her hair, letting it fall past her shoulders in purple waves.

The shower was huge and so they strode in easily. "Best thing about this besides being with you... plenty of hot water," Bastion said, grinning.

Violet giggled, turning on the spray and staying clear of it until it was at least warm. "No other Obelisks here to steal it all, right?"

"Or rushing at ten minutes to eight before classes are about to start," he laughed, turning on the six sprays.

"What can I say? I like sleep, and I like hot showers. Early classes, not so much." She ran a hand down his muddy arm, leaving more of a hand track in the dirt than actually cleaning it off.

Bastion did the same to her. "I just didn't care for cold water."

Violet's eyelids drooped a little and she leaned forward, moving her hands to his chest. "Yeah, well... I can think of a few ways we could have warmed up those cold showers."

"You and I weren't ready," he murmured softly, placing his large soft hands on her back.

"Probably, but... what about now?" she whispered, grassy green eyes meeting stormy grey.

"Are we?" he whispered, shivering a little.

"Well... we could always... find out," Violet replied, voice almost inaudible over the sound of the shower hitting their bodies and the floor.

Bastion gently touched his lips on hers, but just as things were really heating up, he found himself having to sit on the seat in the shower. "Darling, I'm sorry."

Violet, red-faced, smiled and ran a soothing hand through his wet hair. "It's okay, Bastion-baby. You're still recovering. We'll have plenty of time for this in the future."

"Yeah, but... clearly I wanted to," he admitted, panting. "But… I don't think I have the strength for much of anything."

Violet kissed his cheek, nuzzling him affectionately. "I can wait, Bastion. I've waited this long, haven't I? A few more weeks or so won't kill me."

"It won't kill either of us... and besides... we didn't need to risk... as much as I'd like to planning a nursery... well..."

She nodded, smiling. "Right, let's save it at least until after we're married and have a place of our own..."

"Definitely a good idea. Right now, let's get ourselves finished up and comfortable before dinner, shall we?"

"Right! A little soap and shampoo will get rid of all this icky mud," Violet answered, soaping up a loofah.

And so they scrubbed. The time in the jets had gotten rid of most of the mud, but there was still a little bit in places. When they were finished, the couple got out of the shower and into some clean pajamas. "Again, I miss the laundry service," Bastion sighed as he put his muddy clothes in the hamper.

Violet smirked, tossing hers in as well. "It's just a way to teach us that we need to wash our own clothes, Bastion."

"Yeah. But I already knew, though," he pointed out. "And it's not like the Ras ever had that sort of service and the Slifers definitely didn't."

"You're right there! Though I think Jaden sometimes forgot he had to do his own laundry," Violet remembered, wincing.

"I still remember when he did the laundry with Syrus!" Bastion laughed, pulling on his green short pajamas. "How many students were wearing pink again?"

"Pretty much the whole campus. And seeing as that's mostly guys, they were not happy about it. I thought it was awesome, though," she explained, slipping into loose pajama pants and a white tank top.

Bastion considered that. "Someone was peeved that her My Precious Pony Unity shirt was turned pink, right?" He was very confused, even now about why that girl was so angry. A t-shirt with a pony on it turning pink shouldn't be a big deal, right?

"Oh, you mean Anna. That was her My Little Pony shirt, and it had Rarity on it. If I remember right, she was a pretty huge fan and, well... Rarity was supposed to be white. So she went into a rage," Violet explained grinning at the memory.

"I remember Annie shouting about... Flutter-rage?" Bastion had seen his surrogate sister running away from the enraged Anna, screaming that the girl had gone into Flutter-rage, whatever that was.

Violet thought a few moments then laughed. "Oh! She was probably talking about this one scene where Fluttershy, the quietest and most gentle pony, basically flips out and goes on a rampage. Now that I think back, it was pretty accurate."

Bastion frowned a little. "Why did I not understand any of that from her?" If there was one thing he did not understand from Annie or any girl, it was My Little Pony.

She smirked. "That's because you're not a Brony, Bastion-baby."

"Er... Brony?"

Violet rolled her eyes and pecked him on the cheek. "If you want, I can explain the magical world of Bronies to you later."

"That sounds nice, love, but I'm a bit hungry," Bastion admitted.

She giggled. "Which is why I said I'd explain later. Now you still need to rest, and I know that shower has worn you out, so you just sit down and let me do all the work!" Bastion nodded, but he was already planning something big. Part of it just hadn't arrived yet. Violet, clueless, pulled him over to one of the comfy chairs in the living room/kitchenette and pushed him into it. "You just sit right there while I get the table set and dinner going. It shouldn't take long, half an hour tops."

"All right," he said, silently taking not. "Darling, I've missed your cooking."

She smiled at him fondly. "I missed cooking for you." Grabbing a pink Watapon apron hanging from a hook next to the kitchenette, she quickly put it on and promptly got to work. The clanging of pans and sizzling of cooking food filled the room, along with a gradually compounding aroma as the minutes ticked by.

Bastion closed his eyes, recognizing the scent of meat being braised and then the scent of something sweet as well. He had a feeling he knew what she was making, having helped her when she'd made it on a day when Professor Sartyr challenged her to make hearty but simple. Suffice it to say, it made his mouth water. I mustn't repeat that. I'll need Professor Sartyr's help when the time comes.

"Bastion, do I have to give you a napkin over there?" Violet teased, peeking at him over her shoulder and giggling at the spot of drool on his chin. She rolled a pan with practiced ease, flipping the round slices of carrot into the air a few times. "It's almost ready, so just be patient."

"I will be," he said with a smile. "Violet, while I've eaten good food, it's not the same as being out of the infirmary and eating it, love. You know that."

"And it's definitely not the same as eating mine!" she cheered, checking in the oven and pulling out another pan. She set it on the stove, humming as she multi-tasked between the various burners in front of her. "Normally you'd set the table but you just stay there, I can do it."

"You sure?" he asked.

"Positive. The doctors said to rest, and you're gonna rest. Whether you like it or not, mister," she answered with a tone of finality.

"All right." And then something occurred to him. "It's awfully quiet here." There should have been some activity from their roommates, but there wasn't.

"Hmm... well, maybe Sy and Annie are out having their own romantic night together. Which gives us awesome alone time!" Violet stepped away from the stove to gather up some necessary tableware.

Bastion nodded. "Maybe it was their idea to leave us alone. And besides, I think Syrus will have some duties to perform soon. What if Zane wants him to be his best man?"

"Aww! That would be so cute! I bet Jackie wouldn't mind, so it's possible." She slid open the door to the balcony and poked her head outside, but the weather had evened out into a clear, calm night. When she'd set the table, he stepped out to where she'd fixed it. The sun was low in the sky, painting the lake orange. "Ooh, I always loved the sunsets here because of the lake. It almost looks like the two suns are melting into each other!" Violet explained, referring to the sunset's reflection in the water.

"It does. I love the sunset, but I also love the night," he murmured dreamily. "I love the stars; how they sparkle. I see them in your eyes, Violet." He turned to look her right in the eyes.

Her eyes widened in slight surprise and she blushed, but was unable to look away. "Bastion..."

He took her hand in his. "I mean it, you have stars in your eyes. And Violet, my darling, I wouldn't have you any other way than what you are."

Her heart skipped a beat, and she squeezed his hand. "Bastion, I... I love-" She paused suddenly, sniffing the air. "Is something burning?"

He wisely let her go. "Oops!"

Violet gasped. "The carrots!" She dashed inside and there was some clattering before she called out, "It's okay, I saved 'em!"

"Oh good! I'll try not to distract you, love!"

"It was mostly done, anyway. It's why I started setting the table. Sit down and I'll bring out our plates!"

Bastion did, the smell of steak, carrots and potatoes calling to him from the kitchen. A few minutes later Violet returned to the balcony, sans apron, and with a steaming plate held in each hand. Smiling, she set Bastion's down in front of him then sat down with her own beside him at the little table overlooking the lake. "Your round steak with that wonderful gravy; Violet, I may eat like Jaden," Bastion laughed, honestly feeling he would wolf it all down in one fell swoop.

She blushed again, smirking. "It did win Professor Sartyr over last time. You seemed to like it so much too, I figured it would be a good 'welcome home' dinner. Just don't eat so fast you get sick."

"Noted." He took up his knife and fork and began to eat. Fortunately, his usual eating habits were not overcome by his hunger. That and his dining companion was even more pleasant here back in their suite. "I guess it's good that we'll get practice with Zane and his fiancée," he remarked.

"You mean with the whole wedding thing?" she asked, pausing in her food inhalation. Even during a romantic dinner, Violet's hunger always won out.

"Yeah. Since the group wedding was delayed, we'll get practice. Oh no..." Bastion's eyes suddenly widened in horror.

Violet blinked, confused and suddenly worried by the abrupt change. "Bastion? What's wrong?"

"Atticus; he'll want to plan a bachelor party."

Violet sighed in relief. "Geez, Bastion-baby, don't scare me like that! So what if Atticus wants to do that? It's normal!"

"Yes, but what will he have us do? And what will he do?" Bastion's mind was racing.

Violet giggled. "Bastion, don't worry so much! Atty knows if he does anything too wild, all the girls and moms will throttle him."

"He's sne... wait... he's worse than Jaden!"

"Worse than Jaden at what?" she asked, puzzled.

"Being sneaky," he chuckled.

"Oh... well yeah, he's kinda loud. And obvious. So I don't think he'd be able to hide anything from us."

Bastion laughed out loud. "We're safe, then. But you girls have your work cut out for you. Jackie might want a baby shower instead of a bachelorette party."

"Oh gosh, a baby shower, I'll need to get the baby a really great present! Maybe I could make the baby a toy bazooka like mine!"

"The child shouldn't be thinking of weapons yet, darling! What about an educational toy?" he queried, taking another enthusiastic bite of the sweet maple carrots.

"But a bazooka is educational! It takes a lot to learn how to properly use one, you know. Besides, it's not that much of a weapon," she countered, pouting.

"But the child won't even be born for seven months, I believe Zane said."

"Well then, it'll be all ready for him or her to try out by the time that happens! Maybe I'll have it shoot something cute, like little teddy bears!"

Bastion nodded, smiling. "But maybe you should just go with a teddy bear."

Violet pouted again. "You think so? But it's so cliché!"

"Well, it could be a sehlat," he muttered.

"Gesundheit," she stated after a moment.

"Hmm?"

"Well it sounded like you sneezed there, after muttering something." She was referring to the word he had used, "sehlat."

"Oh, no, I didn't. I was referring to a Vulcan teddy bear."

"Vulcan... teddy bear?"

"Star Trek thing," he explained. "Sehlats look like a cross between a teddy bear and a saber tooth tiger."

Violet took a moment to try and imagine such a thing, then grinned. "You mean you can buy those?"

Bastion thought a moment. "Well, I've seen them offered by fans on a few websites."

"Hmm... maybe I could ask Annie to help me make one..."

"I'm sure she'd be glad to," he grinned. "Remember that toy Dark Magician she made in first year?" It had been a very simple toy she'd made for one of the Slifer boys who'd been too far from home to go back for winter break.

"Yup! It was so cute. I bet she could help me make that teddy bear, easy."

Bastion nodded again. "What else shall we talk about tonight?" His expression became slightly naughty. "Unless you have something else on the stove, I could tell you what other things remind me of you..."

Violet smiled. "Bastion, you're gonna make me blush..."

"Glad to do it, love. I missed doing that, making your cheeks turn the color of the sunset..."

And they did then as she wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned into him. "I missed just holding you like this, without it being on a hospital bed..."

He put his arms around her, holding her close. "It'll be nice to be just us tonight in our bed, no monitors... no doctors..."

"And no Darkness, or vampires, or revenge-seeking duel monsters, or crazy, abusive ex-boyfriends. Just us, together and alive," she murmured, so happy to be able to say that at last.

"I won't jinx us... but let's enjoy tonight." And so they sat together, watching the sun go down and enjoying each other's company.

We all hope this chapter was worth the wait. I know it's been three years, guys, but I hope some of our original readers are happy we've gotten another one published. We will finish this tale, somehow. Please continue to read and review. Thank you so much!