Prologue
It was storming. Lightning was flashing, blinding any who were out to see. But few would brave it. Any with any feel for the Shadow realm and it's beings, knew something was happening.
Something important. Something that could be the beginning of a time of joy or chaos. A new beginning for the world or the end of it all.

The rain was pouring down, making Seto Kaiba's trip all that much more enjoyable. "Fuck." he muttered for the thousandth time as he almost went off the road. Why had he picked today as the day to drive himself to Kaiba Corp. headquarters?
All he wanted to do was get home to his baby brother. He just hoped Mokuba wasn't too afraid. He knew that his little brother was almost 13 and wasn't that afraid fo storms any more, but Seto wanted to be there just in case.
He was only a few yards from the road that would lead him to his drive when the front driver's side tire decided to blow, sending him into a spiral Seto knew he wouldn't survive. Closing his eyes he prayed to any who would listen. //Please, I must live. I can't dump Kaiba Corp. on Mokuba. He's a little kid. He needs a chance to grow up.//
As he felt the car about to flip time suddenly stopped and a bright white blue light filled his eyes. It was so bright he couldn't look at it and was forced to close his eyes. That was when he heard the soft laughter near him, but no matter how much he wished to look for the owner of the voice the blue light was just too bright.
//Oh, Seto... It's not your time just yet. You still have many things to do in this world. It will be a long time before the lady of death comes for you. For now, rest. And allow your true nature to take over. Forget your worldly hates, needs, wants, desires, pains... everything that isn't purely you. Once that is done you will recall what is so special about tonight and why lady death will not visit you on this occasion. Rest.//
The voice was so pure, and so strangely innocent Seto immediately thought of Yugi. But then he relaxed and for a moment he felt a weight within his heart, then it was gone and everything that had been, was, and had yet to happen made perfect sense.
Just as the paramedics and officials made it to the scene of the burning wreck of Kaiba's car a figure could be standing among the wreckage.
"Mr. Kaiba... Are you okay? Mr. Kaiba? Mr. Kaiba?" the police officer called and watched as man from the wreck turned with a whirl of his blue coat.
Upon his face a smile that could have melted the pants off of any man and the glow in the strangely bright cerulean eyes was enough to kill a normal man. "I am... perfectly fine, officer."
With that, before anyone could say anything, Seto Kaiba walked off into the darkness of the stormy night.
"Hey, Ken." one officer said to his partner.
"Yeah?"
"Did you notice he didn't have a scratch on him... He wasn't wet either... But he was walking in the rain..." Both of the officers' eyes went wide as they studied the wreck and the rain storm around them.
"We're not paid to think. We're paid to clean up messes. Let's just do our job and go home."
The second officer nodded and went back to taking down what a witness had saw.

**Part 2**
"So, Joey... What do you want to do tonight?" Yugi asked as he lay on his bed with just his head hanging over the edge staring down at where his friend lay on the floor beneath him.
"I don't know, Yuge... I thought you and Yami had plans."
Joey had only stopped by long enough to get some help on his algebra homework.
"We did... But it isn't something that can't be put off, I'm sure." Yugi grinned and tilted his head as much as his position allowed him to.
"Actually, Yugi. It only happens once ever fifty human years." Yami said as he came into being beside his aibou.
"What it is?" Yugi asked sitting up and moving onto Yami's lap with a wide eyed innocent look of wonderment.
"The Dragon New Year." Yami told him before repositioning Yugi so the younger boy didn't hurt anything.
"The wha?" Joey asked sitting up and trying not to laugh at Yami's strained expression.
"The Dragon New Year. Dragon years are far longer than human years. And this is their new year. I had thought Yugi and I could celebrate it in our soul chamber, but it will be fun to celebrate with you Joey." Yami gave his hikari's friend a bright smile.
"Naw. I'll just go... Enjoy, Yuge... Yami ya' might wanna make sure he can sit down for class tomorrow. See ya'." Joey waved as he grabbed his bag and walked out leaving the lovers to their own party.
//Dragon New Year... I guess I could celebrate a little.//
Joey thought of his Red Eyes and then nodded to himself. That's just what he would do. Stopping by a little ramen shop near the Kame Game shop he treated himself to a hot meal that he hadn't had to make.
After finishing he hurried out of the shop and fought against the rain trying to make it home before the storm got any worse. Joey had never seen it storming this bad before. It was almost scary, though Joey would never admit to that.
At the door of the home he shared with his father he was greeted by the sight of his father sitting with a shot gun pointed at the door. "I knew you'd have to show up sooner or later...."
His father's words were slurred and Joey knew he was drunk.
Very drunk if the gun were to say anything. Joey was about to push the gun out of the way when his father pulled back both hammers. "Your shit is in those bags. Get out of here and never come back. If you do they'll never find the body."
Joey could only stare as his father kicked a couple of full garbage bags out of the door and then slammed it.
//I won't cry... I won't.// Joey thought to himself as he grabbed his bags and started towards the door. //What am I going to do? I don't have anywhere to go... I guess I could go back to Yuge's...// Joey thought about that for a second then shook his head. He'd seen the look on Yami's face. He didn't want to be in the middle of that. //Then who?//
After a little bit of thinking he smiled. //Ryou!//
Eight, very wet, minutes later, Joey shook off some of the rain that dripped from him, as he stepped up onto Ryou's front porch. He stood there for a moment before ringing the bell.
There was a crash and thump as well as a few muttered curses, in what Joey was certain were ancient Egyptian. Then a flushed Ryou opened the door. "Yes?" his voice was harsh with fast breaths and he wore only a teal silk robe.
"Hey... I was wondering if I could stay here for tonight. My dad ki-" Before Joey could finish his sentence Ryou shook his head. "I'm sorry, Joey. Bakura and I are celebrating... what was it again?" he turned and called back into the house.
"Dragon New Year." The answer was short and a little on the needy side.
"Yeah, that. Look, why don't you go stay with Yugi... I'm sure he won't mind. Sorry again, Joey." Ryou gave him a weak smile before closing the door.
Joey couldn't help but laugh. It seemed like everyone was celebrating but him. //What now?//
//Could go see if Malik and Marik could let me sleep there for tonight.// Joey shivered at that thought, remembering the last time he had been over there. //They don't need a reason to have sex... Give 'em a holiday...// Joey left off with another shudder.
//Maybe Kaiba? I mean he's not that bad and he does have that big house. If he won't Mokuba will.// Joey nodded and set off for the Kaiba mansion, hoping he wouldn't have pneumonia by the time he got there.
Half way there Joey was forced to stop beneath a tree for a moment to pull his hair out of his face. Just as he was stepping out of the tree's shelter one of the branches was struck by lightning as Joey looked up it was like slow motion watching the branch come down at him.
He ducked and waited for the pain, but it didn't happen. He could see a bright light behind his eye lids, something like one would see if they turned their faces up to the sun with their eyes closed.
//This is not your time, Joey. There is still a purpose for you in this world.// A gentle voice spoke and Joey shifted as if to look at who ever it was, if that red light hadn't been so bright.
//What do you mean? I'm a nobody.// Joey told the light with his head cocked to one side, wondering if this was some kind of purgatory.
//Oh, Joey... You are so much more than a 'nobody'. What if I were to tell you that the fate of an entire race rested within you.//
//I'd say that the race was screwed and to find someone more appropriate.// Joey wondered if this was a strange dream and he was going to be waking up soon.
//Ah little one, there isn't anyone more perfect. If you will but let go of your mortal ties you will remember what it is you're destined to do.// The voice was now gently coaxing him to relax and to call upon the same source he used when he was calling upon his cards.
Joey nodded and tried. He couldn't let a whole race of beings die. He just couldn't. A gentle warmth filled his mind and then a startling clarity came. //I understand.//
A near-by street person, who had been watching the entire thing, watched in amazement as the boy who had been struck down rose as if nothing had happened.
"What is it you're looking at?" the boy asked as his red eyes cut over to the street person.
"N-n-nothing."
"Ah... how wrong you are." the boy turned and walked away leaving everything behind him burning, even in the rain.
The homeless man stared as he realized that the boy wasn't getting rained on, then he looked into the bottle he had been drinking from and threw it away, deciding to try to make it to the shelter for the night.

The trek would have taken a normal human an hour on foot, but for this one it didn't take more than a few minutes and even then he could have gone faster. At the peak of the forest-like place stood the one he was to mate with.
The Blue eyes turned and stared as the Red eyes approached. "What makes you think you're worthy enough for me to even touch you?"
The Red's head came up and his eyes glowed like burning garnets. "I know I am worthy. Maybe it's you who are... of inferior quality... Why should I want your children?"
"I am the strongest. You look too weak to carry any true Blue eyes." the Blue eyes turned his human back on the human Red eyes.
The Red drew himself up and walked up behind him steadily before grabbing one of his shoulders and spinning him. "I am strong. Stronger than any..." the Red paused to look up and down the Blue's human form, "Blue eyes."
Gasping in pure hate the Blue eyes grabbed for the Red and they went down in a tangle of swinging arms and kicking feet. It didn't take long before the Red had the Blue pinned and was staring down at him with a distant expression. "I guess you are too weak." Rising the last of the Red Eyes Black Dragons started to leave only to have the Blue Eyes White Dragon he had been battling grab him around the waist and throw him the ground. The Blue eyes held the Red's hand above his head and hissed into his ear. "This is not weakness, this is meerly planning. Not everything is about brute force, one must have intelligence as well."
The Red eyes slowly started smiling as the Blue eyes started to grind his hips downwards. "I understand. I conceed the battle to you." With that the Red lowered his eyes and turned his head to one side in a show of submission.
Leaning down the Blue scented his mate, drawing in the keen scents that signaled the Red was ready for baring offspring. Gently he nuzzled at the throbbing pulse point in the Red's throat. The Red keened softly before arching his neck, asking for the claiming. At his mate's prompting the Blue bit down, leaving a mark that would scar, showing that the Red was mated.
"Please..." the Red murmured, wanting what had been so long in coming.
"Soon... we must get in out of the rain and cold. I do not wish for our first time to be in the open. Especially on this night." With an easy strength the Blue eyes scooped the Red eyes up and started to make his way to where he knew they could take shelter.
Once inside the home he knew was his, the Blue eyes took him to the bed chambers and laid him out on the bed with a gente move. As the Red watched the Blue removed his clothes giving his mate the first clear look at him. "Your children will be so pretty..."
"As they are coming from you, I have no doubt." the Blue gently stripped his mate of his clothes then simply stared. Becoming a little self conscious the Red sat up and chewed on his lip. "Am I not good enough?"
"Oh, you are better than good. I will show you how much I love your body." the Blue eyes said as he laid the Red back down.

**Part 4**
Joey awoke with a groan and wondered what had hit him... In the ass. "Oww." Joey started to sit up only to find he was pined with an arm to a bed he knew wasn't his and an arm that couldn't have been.
A moan behind him let him know that something was a little off about what was going on.
Turning slowly under the arm Joey came nose to nose with the last person he expected. Seto Kaiba.
Slowly his bed partner's blue eyes came open to stare at him with question.
Seto sat straight up in bed and yelped. "What the hell!"
Joey just stared back and tried to formulate a reasonable explaination for what was going on.
"I... wha?" Joey looked around and tried to remember how he had got into the Kaiba mansion, and into Seto's room, into his bed, into his arms.
"How did you... how did I... *DID* I?... What are you doing here, mutt?" Seto finally drew his cold Kaiba exterior around him as he glared at Joey.
"I don't have a fuckin' clue, so don't go pointing fingers.
As soon as I get my clothes on I'm outta here." Joey went to stand only to get dizzy and plop back on the bed. "Oh..." he muttered staring at the stars floating above his head.
Seto, half wondering if this was a trick, leaned over to look at him. "What's the matter with you, mutt?"
"I... don't-" Joey was cut off by his consciousness giving out and him giving into the darkness.
"Mutt?... Mutt!... MUTT!" Seto reached out and touched Joey's shoulder. When that didn't get a response he moved closer. "Joey?" he asked softly and, for the first time took in the other male's condition. There were scratches and bites all over him. And Seto was embarrassed to say he could honestly say 'all' over him. It was the thin stream of bloody fluid on Joey's legs that caught and held his attention. "Shit." Seto got out of the bed and pulled the covers with him to check the amount blood Joey had to had lost, because the few scrathes and cuts he had weren't enough to bleed much, if any. The bed looked almost like a war zone had happened, but Seto was thankful to see there was only a little actual blood.
Not knowing what else to do Seto gathered the unconscious boy into his arms and walked into the bathroom where he crawled with him into the tub and started running a warm bath, hoping that would bring him back to the land of the living.
When Joey came around he felt gentle hands washing him and opened his eyes wondering what kind of dream he was having now.
"Shush, pup. It's okay." Seto murmured into his ear as soon as he realized that his bathing companion was awake.
"Wha... Kaiba... Huh?" Joey recalled waking the first time and tried to understand what was going on.
"We'll deal with everything later... Right now we need to make certain you're okay. You were bleeding a little bit, but I don't think it was too bad." Seto told him in a voice far calmer than he felt.
"Bleeding? Where... oh... so we... that is you..." Joey got flustered and started to move away only to have Seto pull him back to lean against his chest again.
"Don't move around too much just yet. You're probably very sore. It seems that a knock on my head turned me into some kind of mad beast... I assualted you pretty badly. But the question is, were you willing?" Seto hoped it was because even though he wasn't exactly friend with the blond he didn't want to have his rape on his conscious.
"That is the question, isn't it? Last thing I remember was standing under a tree trying to wring out my hair... Oh shit what happened to all of my stuff! All I had was in those bags." Joey sunk back against Seto, not even thinking about it.
"Why did you have your stuff with you?" Seto asked as he started rubbing soothing strokes down Joey's back. He didn't know why, but for some reason he felt like he should protect him. But the businessman just put it off to worry about the possible rape.
"My dad kicked me out at the end of a shot gun." Joey muttered wondering what he was going to do now.
"That son of a bitch. I'll kill him." Seto's eyes blazed bright cerulean then faded to their normal blue and he couldn't help but wonder at the sudden need to destroy this man who had hurt his lover. //Lover? When did that happen?// Seto asked himself when the word rolled through his brain. //Last night dumb ass.// the other voice in his head made him jerk and look at Joey who wasn't even pay attention. Assuming it was his conscience, Seto just let it go.
"I've gotta go to Yuge's... it's the only thing I can do...
Maybe the officials won't notice that I don't live at home any more..." Joey was muttering to himself and sounding so heart broken that Seto could only wrap his arms around him and hold him close.
"It'll be okay, pup... I'm sure a few handfuls of cash from Kaiba Corps will make them forget about you. You can stay here until you get on your feet." //What the hell? Did I really offer to pay off some officials and allow him to stay in my home for a indefinite amount of time?// Seto thought to himself as he unconsciously nuzzled Joey's hair.
"Why would you do that for me?" Joey asked as he turned to look at Seto with a shocked expression.
"Because..." Seto thought quickly then come upon an idea. "I need someone who can keep up with Mokuba and isn't three times my age. He needs friends, but he also needs some kind of stability. If you live here that means, Yugi and the others will be around and give him that structure my job won't let me give him. Also, I'm sure you know all of his tricks he uses to get rid of his nannies."
Joey thought about it then nodded. It wasn't a hand out or anything he would be too proud to accept. It was a job, being Mokuba's nanny. "I think I can handle that... One question."
"What's that?" Seto started thinking about the money part of it, what would be fair to pay since he would be getting room and board.
"Do I get to take a bath with you every day?" Joey asked with a chuckle and grinned at Seto making the business man almost smile before shaking his head. "No, this is a one time only offer. Enjoy it while it's good."
"'kay... I think I will." Joey leaned back against Seto and for a while neither did anything.

**Part 5**

"Joey's going to be my what?" Mokuba asked as he looked at the blond sitting at the breakfast table across from his brother.
"Nanny. No wise stuff either. I know some of the things you've done to the others, Mokuba. I don't want any of it to happen to Joey. I would be very disappointed in you." Seto said in a soft voice, giving Joey his first look at the Seto no one but his brother gets to see.
"Okay, big brother. That means you're going to live here!"
Mokuba bounced in his seat for a second before Joey gave a little shake of his head to tell him to stop.
Mokuba landed and smiled largely. "This is gonna be great!"
"Mokuba, you may have the day off from school. But before you cheer you should hear what you need to get done today." Mokuba listened up his brother's words, more than happy to do anything for a day off. "You are to take Joey shopping. He lost most of his things last night and he will need appropriate clothing for this household."
"You mean leather." Mokuba blushed when he realized he'd said that out loud.
"I'm trusting you to find good designers to help him, okay?
Think you can handle that instead of your school work?" Seto gave Mokuba a half smile as his brother started bouncing in his seat again.
"Oh yeah! I know just the stuff. There was this leather coat in Burkman and Sons. It'll look so hot on him! I can't wait." Mokuba could barely sit still for the rest of breakfast and as the younger Kaiba was pulling him from the house Joey looked to Seto and murmured. "I'm kinda feelin' like a Barbie."

****
Joey could honestly say he had never tried on so many things in his entire life. First there was the coat that Mokuba had mentioned. It turned out to be green and expensive, but Joey learned not to say anything about price because Mokuba would frown and get an expression very similar to Seto's before acting like he was about to cry.
Now at the forth and finally mall in Domino City they were already loaded down with packages and they had only visited two stores. "Oh, Joey! Look at these boots!"
Said boots barely held Joey's attention as a woman with a small baby came walking along beside him. "Oh... here ma'am. Let me move." Joey said politely as he moved to allow her through. "Thank you." she gave Joey a soft smile and Joey smiled back before cooing at the baby in her arms. Something about the small infant made him feel almost weak. "Hey, little one. Out shoppin' with yer momma today?" he asked as he tickled the baby under the chin.
The woman chuckled when her baby laughed then moved on through the hustle of the store.
"Hey, Joey?"
"Yeah, Mokuba?" Joey asked turning to where the younger Kaiba brother was waiting on him.
"Did you know that woman?"
"Naw... I just... love babies." Joey felt like there was something off about that statement, but said nothing as he went back to trying to restrain Mokuba's spending habits.

**Part 6**

"Ahww shit." Joey said as he made a desperate dash from the breakfast nook he had been eating in with Seto and Mokuba. It had been just over a month since Joey had woke up in bed with Seto. And this strange illness that had been plaguing him for the last few days was starting to worry him.
After he had finished puking Joey returned to his place at the table to nibbled on some toast.
"Are you okay, Joey? You aren't looking so good." Mokuba commented, worried for his nanny. Joey was the only one to ever hold the position and survive for a month. Mokuba didn't mind having to hang around Joey and the others.
"I'm fine, kid... Just a little stomach flu." Joey told the younger teen, though he wasn't as sure about it as he sounded. On their way to school, after letting Mokuba out at the middle school, Joey turned to Seto with an almost angry look. "What the hell kind of STD did you give me, you ass?"
"Huh?" Seto looked at Joey with question, honestly not knowing what he was talking about.
"I've been sick. I had to have caught what ever it was from you. So just tell me so that I can get some help." Joey glared at him and waited, wondering how bad it could be. Seto didn't look too sick, but then looks could be deceiving.
"I don't have anything. I just had a test less than a week ago. I'm clean. Anything you have, you got on your own." Seto told him and was about to turn his back on him when Joey grabbed his shoulder.
"Before that night I had never even done a woman, let alone anything else! So it had to have been from you!" Joey growled at him. Seto couldn't come up with a reply as Joey turned his back. //Joey was a virgin?//
"Hell yes I was!" Joey answered Seto's unasked question. "How did you know what I was thinking?" Seto demanded, putting Joey's virginity out of his mind.
"I don't know. I just heard you... And I don't want to talk about it any more." Joey said as the limo pulled to a stop outside of the high school, giving him the chance to get out and go walking away in search of Yugi and the others.
Seto growled under his breath and took off to his home room.

****

Seto was in the middle of a report when his computer alerted him. "Seto, I have a message from your brother."
"Give it to me." Seto said looking up and wondering what his brother was contacting him at work for.
"Seto..." his brother's scared face came on as the computer played the recording. "Joey... had to go to the hospital...
Something happened... He fainted... I couldn't wake him up... I'm really scared... Please get here as soon as you can."
By the time the message had blinked off Seto was off and running. He had known the mutt had said he was sick, but he hadn't thought it was that serious. He'd be very angry with himself if something happened to Joey right under his nose.

****

Joey came around with a groan and stared up at the bright lights over his head. "Wha the..."
"Mr. Wheeler, it's good you could join us. How are you feeling?" a woman in a lab coat asked as she was writing in a medical chart.
"I feel fine... Why'm I in the hospital?" Joey asked as he tried to set up.
"Why don't you rest while I explain?" the doctor said as she helped him to relax back against the bed she had taken a moment to raise. "Joey, have you been sexually active in the month and a half?" At Joey's nod she made some notes in her chart.
"Well, Joey... You're pregnant."
"Wha?" Joey stared at the doctor like she was nuts, then a flash of a half memory came to him silencing before he could say anything. //Why should I want your children?".... "I am the strongest.//
That other voice... was Seto... But not. Just like the first was his own, but it wasn't him speaking. Groaning, Joey fell back against the bed and sighed, trying to recall more of the missing night.
"Joey?" the doctor called his attention back to her before going on. "I would like to ask what your plans are."
"What can I do? I'm having a baby." Joey looked at her with a raised eye brow then growled when he realized what she was wondering. "No... I will not kill my child." Joey hissed then went off into his own little world as she started rattling on about vitamins and other things he would worry about later.
He was having a child. He was having Seto's child. He, Joey Wheeler was having Seto Kaiba's child. The irony was enough to make him smile as he rubbed over his stomach.
The doctor, once she realized that she was getting no where, walked out and told the elder of the two waiting on Joey that he could go in.
Seto walked in and stared at the soft smile Joey sported. "Did they figure out what was wrong with you, mutt?"
"Yeah..." Joey murmured not even looking up to Seto.
"Well?"
"You did give me something Seto." Joey said looking up and for a split second Seto thought his eyes looked red.
"Oh shit." Seto started contemplating all the things he could do to the doctors who had told him he was clean.
"You gave me a child." Joey smiled at him before going back to rubbing his stomach and wondering what the child would look like.
"Oh shit."

** Part 7**

Seto was still in shock an hour later when he was helping Joey from the car after arriving home. Mokuba was still asking what was wrong with his nanny, and still getting the same response. 'We'll tell you later.'
A little later, upstairs Joey was resting in the room that had become his since moving into the Kaiba mansion. Seto sat at his bed side trying to deal with the news. Because he knew that Joey was not lying about that night being his first time. And he couldn't deny it any more. Slowly, there was a bound forming between their minds. Little bits of thought and feelings were starting to get through, though it wasn't enough for either to really notice them.
"You look distracted... You wondering how much I'm gonna try to take ya for?" Joey asked bitterly, half glaring at Seto.
"No... Wondering about this bound forming between us." Seto explained softly, thinking on how protective he felt for Joey since that night. It was as if his mind had somehow knew that Joey was pregnant.
"Yer damn right ya knew. I guess I did too... Do you know what that night was, Seto?" Joey asked softly, still amazed by the though of a child inside of him. After that one half memory, Joey had reasoned, because of his link with the dragons of the Shadow and Seto's link with them, they had somehow been effected by the Dragon New Year. It must have been like dragon mating season or something. That was the only thing that made any sense.
Seto, having been able to listen to Joey's thoughts agreed with the reasoning. "So you think we were... under the influence of our dragons."
Joey nodded. It was actually kind of nice that Seto could read his mind, slightly strange but kind of nice. It made it easier to explain what was going on.
//Not exactly.// an almost familiar voice said as a light started to shimmer in a corner of the room.
Feeling the need to protect his mate, with out even realizing he was putting Joey into that position, Seto jumped between him and this possible threat.
The light laughed then came a little closer. //There is no need to worry Seto. You know me.//
Seto gapped as the memory of the wreck came crashing back on him. Joey sat up and wrapped an arm around him, as his own memories came back. "We're actual dragons?"
//In a way, yes. You are the last of the two pure dragons. A long time ago, long before the Shadow was sealed, dragons were creatures that could change their shape at will. Most preferred their human appearance and rarely used their scaly forms. Then with the sealing of the Shadow, those that were left were forced to take refuge in their human forms. Because of this they were almost breed out of existence. All but two species were lost... The Blue Eyes White Dragons and the Red Eyes Black Dragons. While the Blue eyes remained strong to these days, the Red have slowly died out. Till there was only one... You Joey. For your race you mated with a Blue eyes, that's you Seto. While your bloodlines have thinned so much you don't have a Dragon form of your own, you are drawn to others like you. Such as with Seto and his love of the Blue eyes from the Shadow and Joey with your Red eyes. While otherwise you two would be deadly enemies, you were drawn together to preserve your race.// the light landed on the end of the bed and Seto sunk to sit beside Joey.
"You're saying we're mates." Joey murmured softly as it started to make sense.
//Yes.//
Seto tried to think of what to say, but it only continued to roll around in his head.
"That what you meant when you told me that I held the fate of an entire race inside me. You meant that I was keeping me species going by finding a strong mate... To give me strong children. It was our dragon nature that was controlling us that night!" Joey said as it came together in his mind.
Seto blinked as it started to make sense to him as well. He had been drawn to Joey out of a desire for children on a night they were in heat.
//That's correct. Now I must wish you well and be on my way.// the light started to rise only to have Joey stop it.
"Wait... Is there anything we should know about this?" Joey didn't know how to handle that his hormones had picked the person he was going to spend the rest of his life with... Though it did feel right.
//Nothing any more than a normal set of parents to be. As I said before your bloodlines are too thin to have anything more than dragon spirits. Good luck.// With those words the light was gone, leaving a very contemplative set of mates.

** Part 8** "I want to take care of you... I feel I must. But I don't know what I feel for you. I know I don't hate you. I know I feel more for you than just 'like'. I'm just not certain I can classify it as love... The only person I've ever loved is Mokuba and that's different." Seto said it over and over again to himself as he walked to where Joey sat with Mokuba in the gardens at the side of the mansion.
It had been over six months since the light had explained what had happened to them. Since then Joey and Seto had started working on building some sort of relationship. Something that their child wouldn't be embarrassed of.
Yami had confirmed what the light had told them. That the dragons in the Shadow realm use to have human forms until they were breed out, like the dragons here on earth had lost their beastly forms. He had also confirmed that they were actually dragon spirits in human bodies.
Since then, Seto had tried to find a way to explain to Joey that he didn't hate him. But somehow Joey just didn't seem to pick it up through their bound. It was amazing for Seto to feel everything Joey was. His joys about the baby and the indecision about Seto. Also every once in a while Seto would receive a physical feeling. Most of the time it was the baby's movement or something similar. Now Seto felt the need to explain his feelings to Joey, that the blond deserved to know.
//Seto... come here... The baby is doing something funny.// Joey called with his mind, hoping to draw Seto away from what ever it was making his mind feel so dark. At almost eight months into his pregnancy Joey was starting to feel the strain on his body. It was getting difficult to hold his jolly attitude when the weight of everything was pressing on him.
Seto came walking around the edge of the lawn and walked over to sit beside Joey. "What is she doing?" Seto pressed his hand over the baby and waited for Joey's answer.
"I don't really know. Every once in a while it'll feel like she's kicking my spine in." Joey wasn't really concerned. He had been to the doctor the day before and had been reassured everything was fine.
Seto frowned slightly as he blocked out what his brother started rambling to Joey about, and felt his daughter's movements. They were short, as she didn't have much room left in there, but something did seem off about them. "Come on, Joey. We're going to the doctor... Have her check you over."
Joey nodded and allowed his mate to help him onto his feet.

****

"Mr. Kaiba, it appears your daughter is eager to see this world." the doctor told Seto after she had found him in the waiting room.
"But it's too early." Seto's mind raced.
"She'll be fine. A little on the small side, but fine. Now if you want to see this happen you'd better follow me." the doctor turned and walked back into the room with Joey.
Seto glanced to where Mokuba sat with Yugi and Yami before hurrying after her.

**Part 9**

"Shit!" Joey cursed as he let Seto hold him up to bare down and push his daughter into the world.
"I know it hurts, Joey... But think, soon our baby girl will be going home with us." Seto tried to sooth him as the blond pushed with another contraction.
"Yeah." Joey calmed himself and concentrated on the picture he had of their baby. Glittering honey eyes like him. Chocolate brown eyes like Seto. Seto's brain. His good nature. Both their love of Duel Monsters.
"Once more, Joey. I've got her head." the doctor said as she helped the baby into the world.
Moments later a shrill little cry made Seto stop concentrating on Joey to stare at the tiny little girl the doctor held up. "Here she is."
"There she is." Joey muttered as he reached out and took the baby. After studying her for a moment he looked up at Seto and smiled. "I love you."
Seto blinked hard against the tears in his eyes. He'd never felt anything like this. //That's because it's love silly.// Joey commented after hearing Seto's thought.
//This is love?// he asked back as he reached out and supported the baby's head with Joey.
//Yeap.//
//Well, shit.// Seto thought about his little speech to himself earlier and laughed softly in his mind.
"It's not that bad, Seto." Joey told him as he allowed one of the nurses to take the baby to clean her up.
"I didn't say it was bad... I was just a little put out with myself for not realizing it before you did..." Seto muttered as he watched the nurse with keen eyes. He wasn't letting that baby out of his sit until she was twenty.
Joey chuckled and cuddled up at Seto's side. "You'll have to let her go sooner or later. Remember how teens are?"
"Aww hell." Seto wrapped an arm around Joey and only relaxed when the nurse brought the baby back to them. Reaching out Joey accepted the baby back with a grin.
"I love you, Joey." Seto muttered as he watched the tiny girl snuggle into Joey.
"Hmm."
"What?" Seto demanded, wondering if the blond wanted some kind of declaration to the world.
"You didn't call me mutt." Joey said with a laugh and then smiled gently at him.
Seto smiled back and wrapped an arm around them both. "That would have been a little insulting, don't you think? I mean, if you're a mutt what does that make our child... I guess you're not a mutt... But you're still my puppy."
Joey growled under his breath, but had a smile on his face. "I guess that's a little better."
"A little." Seto told him and went back to studying their child.

THE END