The next day before breakfast Seto and Yami were reading a paper while waiting for breakfast, while Mokuba and Maura read the funnies. While upstairs in the family room the servants were getting the decorations and ornaments out of the attic where they stored lots of things including Christmas decorations.

After the last of the dishes were cleared away Seto was informed that everything was all set for them in the family room. Seto nodded his head to acknowledge that he understood. "Okay everyone lets go upstairs. We have a job to do."

"A job? What kind of job?" Maura asked.

"A special one." Seto said, holding out his hand for Mokuba.

Mokuba instantly took it. Seto and Yami led the kids into the family room where the tree had been set up. Mokuba and Maura were both confused walking in to see the tree there but not decorated.

"W-why d-doesn't it have t-things on it?" Mokuba asked.

"Those things kiddo are called decorations." Seto told him.

"That doesn't answer the question. Why hasn't it been decorated yet?" Maura asked.

"Haven't you ever decorated one before?" Yami asked.

"No, I watched the servants do it, one year. Why?" Maura asked.

"Mokuba, have you ever put things on the tree before?" Seto asked, bending down next to him.

Mokuba nodded. "Y-yes and n-no. I n-never put them on t-the tree, just gave o-one to Asana out of the b-box as she asked f-for it."

"Your step-mother didn't complain about this and what about Noah?" Seto asked.

"T-they j-just b-brought the tree home and N-Noah w-was c-coughing and they s-said he'd b-been doing it all d-day and m-my s-stepmother ins-sited t-that he go t-to the h-h-hosp-pital. Asana b-begged to b-be allowed to d-dec-decorate it w-while they w-were gone. Noah didn't like it and t-told her to save some for him to do. Once t-they w-were gone she asked me to help."

"I see, well little one this time you can take them out of the box and put them on the tree." Yami said.

Mokuba's eyes lit up. "R-really?"

"Of course, that's why we had the servants set it up and just leave the decorations." Seto said.

Mokuba couldn't believe it. Maura was surprised too. She never thought about actually doing it herself before. But she was ready to try something new.

"I think maybe we should start with the lights first Seto." Yami suggested.

Seto pulled the lights from the box and tried to unwrap them only to get tangled up in them. Yami's snickers only caused Seto to glare at him. 'Sue me I've never done this before!' Seto thought, getting more tangled only to fall. Thankfully he didn't break that many. If he hadn't wanted to ruin it for the kids he might have yelled it at Yami, but since he didn't he refrained from yelling at the moment.

Though trying to refrain from laughing Yami helped him up and together although a little difficult as neither of them have ever done it before. Somehow managed to get replacement bulbs and get it on the tree and 90% of the one strand of lights working. It was more than before. It wasn't exactly easy but they managed to get the other strands on there without quite so much trouble.

It didn't take long with the four of them to get it completely decorated.

"Wow, it looks so cool!" Maura said.

"Yes, it does look good doesn't it?" Seto said.

Yami whispered in Seto's ear, "How do you feel now?" Remembering his words from the night before about feeling empty when dealing with this.

Seto smiled and whispered back, "I feel more alive than I have in years, you know."

Yami smiled, "Yeah, I feel the same way."

After the kids added a couple of more ornaments they found still in the box, the tree was finally done.

"Now, Seto, you turn out the lights and I'll close the curtains." Yami said going over and closing the curtains on both windows.

Yami walked over and flipped a switch to turn the lights on. The tree may not have looked as good as it had in years passed when the servants did it but to Seto and Yami it was the best tree they'd ever seen. Even the kids seemed to agree.

"So, what goes on top?" Maura asked, holding up to tree toppers. "The Angel or the star? Personally I think it should be the angel. Oh can I put it on?"

Seto had forgotten to do that earlier but it didn't matter much, as long as it got on there. He walked over and flipped on a lamp instead of the overhead lights.

"What do you think Seto? Angel or Star? Maura wants to do it and put the angel up."

Yami almost wanted to run when he saw the anger flare in his eyes at the suggestion of Maura putting the top on the tree. He should have known better than to suggest it. After all this was supposed to be Mokuba's first Christmas, not Maura's. Though he cared a great deal for Maura he understood why Seto didn't want her to do it.

"Um, Well the guards usually put a tree up in the center court. I'll tell them that you and Mokuba will help them with their decorations and let you put an angel they use on the top out there instead."

"Okay, but why? What can't I do this one too?"

Yami sensing Seto's rising anger quickly grabbed her and pulled her out the door. Mokuba was confused as to what was going on. He never paid much attention to the Christmas tree in his old home. Mostly because he was warned to stay clear of it. Asana didn't, at least not when they were putting lights and decorations on the tree, put anything on the top.

Yami sighed, glad to be clear of Seto's anger at the moment and giving him a chance to calm down.

"Why did we have to leave the room? I only asked why I couldn't put the angel on the tree? Did I do something wrong?"

Yami took a deep breath and then slowly let it out and said, "No, no you didn't do anything wrong."

"But..."

Yami put his finger to her lips. "You didn't let me finish. This isn't about you. At the moment to Seto you're in the way."

Maura was confused, she knew Seto didn't seem to like her but she wasn't sure why. "Why? What did I do?"

"You're here. This was supposed to be Mokuba's first Christmas. Something he's never had. You know what it's like to celebrate Christmas. Even if you've never decorated the tree or wrapped presents before, you still unwrapped them; you still felt love and joy on that day. That's something Mokuba's never had."

Realization hit her. She knew what Yami said was true. She'd seen how shy and withdrawn he seems at times. And it was true; she'd always felt happy on Christmas unwrapping the gifts given and happy to see the reaction of the others to their presents. She couldn't imagine what it must have been like. Without a word she walked back into the room.

Yami was confused. Did he upset her that badly?

Maura walked over and tapped Mokuba's shoulder and smiled when he looked at her. "Pick one." She said holding up the tree toppers. She wasn't going to complain, she'd be happy without doing it. She decided that Yami was right. Mokuba should do it.

Seto blinked in surprise, not expecting this. But then smiled and seeing Mokuba's confused and hesitant look walked over to him. "Which do you think would look nice at the top of the tree?" He asked, bending over close to the boy's ear.

Mokuba looked between the two and personally he preferred the star. He started for it but then remembered Maura had wanted the angel. So he pointed to it.

Seto shook his head. 'Just like the kid to do what someone else wants.' He reached out and grabbed the star.

Mokuba looked at him confused and wondered if he did something wrong.

"Yami I'm afraid he might knock over the tree when we do this, why don't you hold it just in case." Seto said.

"All right." Yami said going over and holding on to the tree.

Seto bent down, "Okay kid, now see how it fits on to this limb like this?" Seto asked showing him on a lower branch how to put it on.

Mokuba nodded.

"Good, now I'm going to lift you up and you put it on the top okay?"

"Okay, big brother."

Seto gave the boy the star and then carefully lifted him up so he could put it up. It was a good thing that Yami was holding it, cause when Mokuba was putting it on there it nearly fell over. Thankfully nothing fell or got broken and they were all happy with the results.

Soon afterward Seto and Yami took the kids outside where the guards and knights had finished setting up their tree. They were anything but pleased when they learned that the kids were going to be helping them with their tree. But at least when Yami said Maura was going to be the one to put the angel on top, few argued with it. Only because they usually had fights even with drawing a number or duel with cards to decide. Some always argued it wasn't fair. At least this way no one can complain that they should have gotten to do it.

After making certain that the guards understood that it was their responsibility to keep the kids safe till they returned, they left to do some Christmas shopping. Thankfully most places wrapped the gifts for them, the ones that didn't, they'd have servants to do that.

They got back with a wagon full and another to be delivered later that day or the next. Now that the tree was up there was a place to put them. They had the servants move the presents and went to find the kids. They knew if they wanted to go to the fair in the next few days they'd have to crack down and work. But they didn't feel like work today, today was playtime. Since Samantha felt that they shouldn't do anymore school till the new year like a regular school they found the kids in the playroom. The four of them played inside and outside some. That night they all went to bed about the same time. Seto and Yami didn't normally go to bed so early but if they wanted to get through all that blasted paperwork the next day they'd need all the energy they could get!

The next day after breakfast Seto was reading a paper and Yami was looking over some other files.

"Look guys, we have some things planned for the weekend and in order to do that we need to really work tonight. So unless it's an emergency, if you need something talk to Ryo." Yami said.

"Okay, big brother." Mokuba said.

"Okay, Yami."

Yami sighed. "Maura come with me, we need to talk."

Maura was slightly afraid she was in trouble. But she got up and followed Yami into the downstairs living room.

"Sit down." Yami said.

Maura sat down on the couch and Yami sat down on a table across from her.

"If this is about Mokuba last night, I'm sorry. I know I should have just come to you and…"

"This has nothing to do with that." Yami said, quick to reassure her. "In fact you did very good with him on that."

"I did?" Maura asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact you did. Sometimes Seto and I don't wake him, we just rub his arm till he calms down. But what I wanted to talk to you about was, well when you feel more comfortable and everything, that maybe you might consider calling me big brother."

"Really? Seto too?"

"Um…well I'm serious about me, but Seto well I can't speak for him. You might want to ask him first. Now you run along and play."

"Okay, big brother." Maura said and ran off.

Yami just shook his head and went back to Seto.