Notes: This is a totally self-indulgent squeefest.

With You I'll Remain

It was a relief to get back to the highly populated diner after their experiences in the mine. The townspeople were milling around, happy and socializing with each other. And Scotch was bounding over to them with a gleam in his eye.

"Hey! How was the mine?" He tried to speak seriously, but he looked ready to burst with excitement about something.

"It was . . . well, I'm glad to have that inspection over and done with," Radley said. "Now we can go ahead with getting the necessary repairs made and re-open Malcolm's side of the mine. It needs a lot of work in some places, but overall we can bring back most of it."

Kalin nodded. He didn't really want to discuss the mine at all, so he would leave it to Radley to say as much as he felt should be said. Radley was the one who really understood mining, after all.

"That's good," Scotch said.

Radley suddenly chuckled. "Scotch, you look like you're about to go loco if you don't say something else. What's on your mind?"

Scotch perked up to be given the green light. "I just got the most epic bunch of ideas!" he gushed.

"Again?" Kalin blinked.

Radley was amused and not surprised. "Oh? What now?"

"The town's almost ready! We should have a big festival to celebrate!" Scotch said.

"I can definitely get behind that," Radley agreed.

Kalin considered that and nodded. As long as he didn't design any of it, he was fine with it. He wasn't really big on party-planning anymore, although he had softened to still enjoy attending the ones thrown by the Bunch.

"We'll have food and booths and dueling and a big concert! And you and Kalin should sing Love is an Open Door for it!" Scotch declared.

Now Kalin gave Scotch a blank look. "What."

Radley was only further amused. "We should, huh? Proposal and all?"

"Well . . . probably not that part," Scotch amended. "Without that, the song could be talking about any kind of love!"

"Hmm." Radley looked sideways at Kalin. "I guess it could at that."

"Isn't that the song sung by the red-haired girl in Frozen and the guy who ends up betraying her?" Kalin flatly asked, all the while thinking it strange that he knew that.

"That doesn't change that it's a cute song!" Scotch replied.

Radley chuckled and patted Kalin on the arm. "I'm not sure Kalin feels ready to sing in front of an audience."

"I don't," Kalin said.

"You could practice first!" Scotch persisted.

"We'll see," Radley said. "Right now we'd like some dinner." He and Kalin gave him their orders.

"Oh, right!" Scotch headed towards the kitchen. "We can talk about it later!"

Radley sat down at the nearest table, shaking his head in amusement. Kalin sat down by him. "Does Scotch do that a lot?" he asked. "Try to recruit you into his concerts, I mean."

"Oh yeah. I'll usually do it too," Radley said. "But I didn't wanna commit you without your permission."

"Thanks." Kalin flushed a bit as he studied the table.

". . . Are you reluctant just because you don't like performing, or because you don't wanna sing that particular song?" Radley asked after a moment.

Kalin went a deeper red. But then he looked up, thoughtful. The idea of singing that song had seemed embarrassing and awkward at first, but on the other hand, Scotch was right about it mostly working for any kind of love. Maybe it would be nice to perform with Radley. The song could be a celebration of what they had found together and were enjoying with each other.

"I . . . I think I'd like to sing it," he said at last.

Radley smiled, surprised and pleased all at once. "You're sure now? Once we agree, Scotch will be all over the idea and planning just the right moment for us to go on."

"Yeah," Kalin said, feeling surer now. "I want to do it."

Radley looked so happy, Kalin knew he'd made the right decision. "We can let Scotch know when he comes back," he said.

Kalin nodded. "Let's do that." He paused. "Which part do you want to sing?"

"Well . . ." Radley pondered. "I've always kinda resonated with Anna singing about all the doors being slammed in her face."

Kalin could imagine. "You sing her part then."

"You're okay with singing for Hans?" Radley asked.

"As long as we're singing as ourselves and not as them," Kalin grunted. "I don't want to play Hans, but I don't mind his part in the song."

"You and Hans both ended up not being what you seemed at first," Radley mused. "But while that was a horrible negative on Hans' part, it was an amazing positive on yours."

Kalin had to smile at that. Of course Radley would see it that way.

"What do you think of doing the choreography?" Radley asked.

Kalin grunted. He hadn't even thought of that. "Should we?"

"It's totally okay if we just stand there and sing," Radley assured him. "But I know Scotch likes having choreography for a lot of the fancy numbers that come from movies. When he does Disney concerts, he'll even have costumes. I drew the line at dressing up as Flounder the fish." He giggled.

"I'd hope so," Kalin said flatly.

He took out his phone and brought up the song clip on YouTube. He watched the choreography intently, blushing a bit again. It would certainly make for an interesting performance. He and Radley would be dancing and twirling and pantomiming around the stage.

Radley leaned over to watch. "You're sure you'd be comfortable with this?" he asked. "I think to actually do the choreography, those involved would either have to be incredible actors . . . or incredibly close." He smiled. "Doubly so if their feelings are not romantic."

Kalin nodded. "I agree." He leaned back, pondering. He and Radley were still finding their way together, but their bond was already strong and enduring. Kalin had wanted to be with him almost from the start, but had denied them both the chance until it was almost too late. Now that they were free to pursue it, they were discovering an amazing world of friendship and love. The thought of being close enough to comfortably perform a song most people would remember as romantic was somehow awe-inspiring.

". . . Let's go in the lounge and try it out while the dinner's being cooked," he said at last. "If you're up for it right now, I mean."

Radley smiled more. "I feel fine. Let's do it."

They got up, leaving word with Biff as to where they'd be for the next few minutes. Then they headed down the hall and into the lounge, where Radley shut the door and set up Kalin's phone where they could see it and start memorizing what to do and when. As he started the video again, he sang along with Anna in his clear tenor voice.

"You already know the words?" Kalin noted.

"Some, anyway," Radley chuckled. "You know Scotch and his penchant for movie nights and music."

Kalin did indeed. It wasn't really a surprise Radley would have subconsciously memorized things, when he thought about it.

They both watched the video while trying to emulate the movement of the characters throughout the song. They danced and waltzed, with Kalin even lifting Radley around his waist in the air for several seconds.

Radley had to laugh in a bit of surprise. "I wasn't sure you'd actually do that part."

"You're not heavy," Kalin said, and it was true. Or maybe it was that he was unusually strong. They were both about the same size.

"And you're not bad at improvising dancing," Radley said.

"I'm just trying to copy what they're doing," Kalin said. "Do you know how to dance?"

Radley smiled. "I do, actually. I'd be happy to teach you."

"I'd like that," Kalin said. He never would have cared before. But now it seemed fun, something else for them to share together.

They danced and waltzed some more, singing on the lines they already knew. And as they harmonized on "Say goodbye to the pain of the past," suddenly the line and the song all became very real to Kalin. He froze, just looking at Radley as their fingers interlocked. From Radley's expression, he had had the same epiphany.

Scotch had made such an ideal, perfect choice of song for them. Their lives had begun anew after Crash Town. They could say goodbye to the pain of the past, because they were getting through it and making new, happy memories together. And now that Kalin was receptive to the love Radley had wanted to share all along, love truly was an open door for them.

They started back to the present as YouTube automatically switched to another video after the end of the song.

". . . We kinda dropped the ball there," Radley said.

Kalin went over to the phone and pressed the Back button to get the song back. "Scotch understands people a lot better than he lets on, doesn't he," he remarked.

Radley smiled more. "Yeah," he said. "I'd say he does. Every time he's asked me to sing a specific song, I look at the words or hear the music and I realize that, for one or more reasons, it really does work for me. Scotch has a real talent at putting together his concerts."

Kalin nodded. "I wasn't sure at all what to think of this one at first, but now I know it's perfect." He set the phone down at the beginning of the song. "Let's try this again."

Radley was happy to comply.

They had time for several run-throughs before the food was ready. By then they were both feeling quite confident about the song and their performance of it. They were learning the other lyrics better and Kalin really had a good singing voice.

"You're an excellent baritone," Radley complimented as they headed back to the tables.

"Thanks," Kalin said. "I didn't even know I could sing."

Radley winked. "Somehow I'm not surprised you can."

Scotch was eagerly waiting for them when they arrived for the food. "Well?" he asked. "Did you figure out yet if you'll do it?"

Radley and Kalin exchanged a smile. "We'll do it," Radley said grandly.

Scotch punched the air with a fist. "Yes! It's going to be so epic!"

Kalin smirked a bit. Even though he was still rather nervous when he thought of performing in front of everyone, he liked how it was coming together. He and Radley had a story to tell in their performance, a highly personal story of love and triumph. And he was eager to share it.

"Yeah," he said as they sat down. "I think it will be."

The next days were filled with excitement and preparations. Scotch was getting the whole town into the festival act and they were all planning what to do for it. Malcolm's part of the mine was being fortified and cleaned for its grand reopening as part of Radley's mine.

Kalin and Radley were working on Turbo Duels and their performances for Scotch's concert. There were a couple of numbers Radley wanted to do, and he had asked Kalin if he would accompany him on the harmonica for one of them. Kalin was touched and willing. That was easier to learn than Love is an Open Door, but that one was coming along well too. They were having fun with the choreography and were thrilled with how perfect most of the lyrics really were for them.

"Okay, so we're not that much alike," Radley chuckled after one run-through. "But we complement each other well and our bond is strengthening to the point that we're coming to deeply understand each other."

Kalin nodded. "And that's highly meaningful, even moreso than if we really were a lot alike."

Radley smiled. "You're learning well."

The villa was also continuing to be explored. So far, nothing else nefarious had been found, but there was still a lot left to examine. Radley enjoyed the adventure of it, and Kalin did too since nothing else bad had happened. It was a fascinating, beautiful place filled with memories of bygone times as well as the recent past.

As Kalin had wondered, Bettina's faction in town had decided to nominate Bettina herself for mayor. Posters in favor of her were going up around town, although the majority of the people ignored them and still put up posters for Radley. A few others displayed posters for Kalin for mayor even though he was already a shoe-in for sheriff. It was an interesting time, and it wouldn't be long now before the voting came about.

Kalin smiled hopefully as he settled down with his phone one night to call Yusei. It had been some days since their last communication and he wanted to catch up, as well as to offer an invitation. He dialed the number.

"Hey, Kalin," Yusei soon greeted. "How's it going?"

"Everything is great," Kalin said. "I've started to Turbo Duel again."

Yusei smiled. "How's that going?"

"It's alright," Kalin said honestly. "I think I'm going to be able to do it. Maybe not in time for the WRGP, but it's going to happen."

"Good," Yusei said. "I'm glad."

"The town's almost put together now," Kalin said. "Scotch is planning a big festival to celebrate."

"That should be interesting," Yusei said.

"Scotch is good at what he does," Kalin said. He hesitated a moment before adding, "He's asked me and Radley to perform in his concert."

Now that definitely surprised Yusei and his eyebrows shot up. "Are you doing it?"

Kalin smiled. "We are. It's not something I ever thought I'd be doing, but . . . Yusei, it feels so right."

Yusei smiled too. "I can tell you're happy, Kalin. That's all I ever wanted for you."

"And you did everything in your power to give me this chance," Kalin said. "You never gave up on me no matter how bad things got or how everyone else decided I was hopeless. I wouldn't be here if not for you, Yusei."

"And you're using your second chance well," Yusei said. "The town and the kids and Radley are all so good for you."

"They truly are," Kalin said. "I know it's a lot to ask right before the tournament and all, but . . . will you come to the festival, Yusei? You and Jack and Crow? I want to share it with you, and you were all a part of saving the town too."

Yusei smiled more. "Of course I'll come. I'm sure Jack and Crow will too. We wouldn't miss it!"

Kalin beamed. "It's two weekends away on Friday and Saturday."

"We'll be there," Yusei promised.

Kalin hung up feeling light and free.

Passing by the room, Radley smiled and looked in. "Yusei's coming, of course?"

Kalin looked up. "Yeah." He took up his phone with a smile. "Are you ready to practice some more?"

"I think we've just about got it, but I won't say No," Radley winked. "We can't practice too much, after all."

Kalin concurred.

Just as Scotch had hoped and dreamed, the festival was coming together very smoothly. The whole town was excitedly rallying around the idea, eager to show the world what the new and improved Satisfaction Town was going to be. It wasn't taking a terribly long time for Kalin and Radley to figure out their performance the rest of the way, either. They were having a grand old time working with it and Kalin was glad he had agreed to do it. It was fun, and working with Radley gave him a thrill.

All too soon, it came time for the big weekend.

Satisfaction Town opened its gates to New Domino City and anyone else who wanted to come to their celebration of rebuilding and rebranding. Craft and merchandise and food booths of every kind lined Main Street and the four-way crossroads where the duels had once been held. The permanent businesses announced special weekend sales and deals. The Bunch held motorcycle races and stunts just outside of town. People milled about, enjoying all the wares and offerings. Unlike in the past, Satisfaction Town was family-friendly and a most desirable weekend getaway. Finally, just as Radley had dreamed, it was a safe place for children—and everyone, really.

"There's Yusei and Crow!" Kalin exclaimed as they walked about the area.

Radley smiled. "Let's go over and say Hello."

Yusei and Crow caught sight of them too and hurried over.

"Kalin! Radley!" Yusei waved.

Kalin waved back. "It's great to see you both!"

"It sure is," Crow said.

"Everything looks great," Yusei smiled.

"It does, doesn't it," Radley said with pride. "Be sure to tell Scotch; he really planned everything."

"I'm sure you two had a hand in it, didn't you?" Crow drawled.

"Not much," Kalin said honestly. "Radley really let Scotch have full reign and he came through."

"And he has other surprises in store," Radley said grandly.

"Like this concert tonight?" Crow said. "You could have knocked Jack over with a feather when Yusei said you were performing, Kalin!"

"I could have been knocked over too," Kalin deadpanned.

"Where is Jack anyway?" Radley asked.

"Mostly checking out the food booths and looking for Duel Monsters cards," Crow said. "You got any of those here?"

"Oh sure," Radley said. "There's a whole booth devoted to cards."

"That's probably where Jack is," Yusei said.

"Hopefully our humble selection will have something he'll appreciate," Radley said.

"Probably not, unless you've got a bunch of rare and powerful ones," Crow said.

"Well, I wouldn't say we have 'a bunch,' but there should be some," Radley said.

"He could have been waylaid by townspeople too," Kalin said. "All of you are thought of very highly here. The kids will never forget how Jack saved them." He smiled. "I won't either."

Yusei also smiled. "How are the kids? And Jordan?"

"They're great," Kalin said. "Jordan's getting better and they're so happy to have him back."

"We check in with them all that we can, but they're really doing most of the helping," Radley said. "They want it that way."

"That's wonderful," Yusei said.

"We're very happy with how everything has ended up," Radley said. Sobering, he added, "Of course, there are families whose situations aren't happy in the aftermath of all this."

Yusei nodded. "I know. And I know you're doing all you can for them too."

"Yeah." Radley sighed.

Wanting to quickly change the subject to something happier, Crow said, "So what's with all the posters around town? I thought you guys were already in as mayor and sheriff."

"We were waiting to have the voting until after the festival, actually," Radley said.

Kalin nodded. "This festival is a chance for people to mingle with all the candidates one last time before voting this coming Tuesday."

"I'm sure you'll both get in," Yusei said.

"I rather think so too," Radley said.

"Let us know when the swearing in ceremony is and we'll be there," Yusei smiled.

Kalin smiled too. "I know, and we will. Thank you, Yusei."

Crow gave him a thumbs-up. "You've done good, Kalin. Real good. You too, Radley. The town looks way better than last time, even before Lawton blew it up!"

"Everyone in town put it back together," Radley said.

"But we did have ideas about it," Kalin said. "They followed our vision."

"It was a group effort," Yusei said. "Just like with the Enforcers."

Kalin smiled. "Yeah. That's a good way to put it."

"Now you've got your own new team again," Crow said. "So it's like the Enforcers reborn, isn't it?"

Kalin blinked in a bit of surprise. "It's Radley's team," he said. "He just graciously let me be on it."

"As my co-leader," Radley added. "We run the Bunch together."

"That's great," Yusei smiled sincerely.

Crow looked like he wanted to say more, but didn't. Instead he said, "Well, we'd better go see what Jack's got himself into. We'll see you guys tonight at the concert!"

Kalin nodded. "We'll see you then," he agreed.

Radley looked a little worried once they were alone again. "Do any of them know what we're going to sing?" he asked.

Kalin shook his head. "I didn't tell Yusei."

Radley chuckled a bit. "It might require a bit of explaining."

"Yeah," Kalin mused. He had wondered if Jack and Crow would be upset about the name he had wanted for their Duel Team. Now, especially when he thought on how Crow had abandoned whatever he had been about to say about the Bunch's leadership, he had to wonder just how they really would feel about how close he and Radley had become.

Oh well. It was probably nothing.

"I'm sure it'll be fine," he said.

Radley nodded. "Probably," he said. But from the way he said it, he was wondering too.

Scotch's concert was very well-planned, as always. He sang Malcolm's parody of You're Welcome and the audience roared . . . although Yusei looked like he wanted to hide under the table at the memory of it. Kalin accompanied Radley on the harmonica as Radley sang Carry On, My Wayward Son, a song he associated with himself. The Bunch did several other humor numbers, mostly Weird Al Yankovic songs such as Eat It and I Love Rocky Road. Radley gave a devilish smirk and sang Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, only changing it to Lawton Brown and leaving the other lyrics alone. It was eerily incredible how much the song fit their nemesis.

Then, at long last, it was time for their final, big number.

"The diner is packed tonight," Radley remarked.

"And Yusei, Jack, and Crow are out there too," Kalin said. Jack and Crow still didn't know about the final performance, as far as Kalin knew. He had to wonder what they would think of it. Yusei was thrilled that Kalin felt confident enough for such a thing, but he also didn't know what song had been chosen.

Radley laid a hand on his shoulder. "Are you ready for this?"

Kalin nodded. "Yeah." He had to be, really. Scotch was announcing them now.

"And for our grand finale, may I present Radley and Kalin singing Love is an Open Door!" Scotch declared.

Jack especially looked shocked. "Love is what?!"

Radley laughed softly. "And we're on. Let's go."

They stepped out on the stage, bowed, and the instrumental music track Scotch had found began. Radley started them off as he always did, and Kalin sang back to him, trying not to think about all the people who were watching them. This was something he wanted to share. Even though he was nervous, he was going to do it.

Things incredibly went off without a serious hitch. Kalin stumbled once or twice but quickly righted himself, and Radley was a professional-level showman, as always. But then, as they spun their way to the final part, with Kalin down on one knee and holding Radley's hand, the strangest urge came over him. They had opted to omit the final lines of the song, and that was still a good idea since it did not capture the uniqueness of their relationship, but now Kalin wanted suddenly to replace them with something else, something that would truly express how he was feeling right in this moment. Something that would show how much he had come to care about this amazing, wonderful person who had shown him how to laugh and have fun again when he had believed nothing could ever do that for him.

Something that would show his love. . . .

He looked into Radley's eyes, speaking clearly and distinctly. "Will you . . . stay with me forever?"

Radley looked at him in shock. This was not part of their performance. He could see in an instant that Kalin meant it in real-life, that he was expressing his love in a deep and most sincere way and he wanted everyone to know it. All that Radley had dreamed of had come true, and he had already known that, but this drove it home all the more.

"Yes," he said, deeply moved as he squeezed Kalin's hand. "Yes, I will."

The music ended to complete silence, the audience just as stunned by the finale.

It was Yusei who snapped out of his trance first. "Bravo!" he called, leaping to his feet as he clapped. "Bravo!"

It was not usual for Yusei to make such a spectacle of himself. He preferred being quietly in the background unless he had to step forward for a duel. But he wanted with all his heart to support Kalin, to show how happy he was that Kalin had found such healing and happiness and would be alright now. That was all he had longed for for Kalin for so many years. Now it had come true at last.

With the spell broken, the diner erupted into cheers and claps from everyone present. Scotch whooped and hollered in utter, euphoric joy. Jack, who seemed more bowled over than anyone else, gave a couple of dazed claps as he just stared at Kalin. They would definitely be talking later.

Radley grinned, still holding Kalin's hand as he stood and brought Kalin up as well. "Thank you!" he called to the audience as he led Kalin in a sweeping bow. "You're too kind. Thank you!"

Kalin found himself smiling too. It felt like a fantastic dream, something he would never deserve and could never have in a million years after all his sins. But he had it.

"Thank you," he whispered to Radley.

Radley beamed, squeezing his hand again. "Thank you, Kalin, so much, for opening the door to your heart and letting me in."

They had reached a new milestone tonight. And both were eager to see where their new path would take them in their bright new future.