From Love Comes Great Joy, Part 7 : First Sonogram

The gang was at the hospital, sitting in a dark room with a chair for lounging that was connected to a monitor, which was off at the moment. A counter sat behind the chair full of medical supplies, bottles full of stuff, and several folders sat untouched by any of the individuals. Everyone sat in uncomfortable chairs at the far wall, the mothers-to-be fidgeting around and annoying everyone else in the room.

"I hate the dark," Yugi whimpered, huddling closer to Nikore, who didn't look up from her issue of Cosmopolitan as she wrap an arm around him, using what little light she had to see.

"I like the dark," Bakura giggled, just to annoy the hikari. Ryou whacked him in the arm.

"I need to piss," Malik whined, trying not to hold his dick as the urge became stronger, "Why is it we had to drink all that water in the first place?"

"So the doctors can see the baby," Nikore said, turning the page, "Quit yer whining. Women go through this every time they get pregnant and they don't whine this much."

"Then I'm glad I'm gay," the Egyptian snorted before the door opened and Dr. Gate walked in with another set of folders.

"Okay I see everyone's here," he smiles, then set the folders down along with the others, "Now, did everyone remembered to drink twelve glasses of water an hour before coming here?"

The teens grumpily nodded.

"Excellent," the reploid turned on the monitor, "This monitor is going to send pictures of your baby onto this screen and I can see how each are progressing. If there are any problems, we can try to correct them as best as we can."

Yami Malik was about to ask him what he meant by that, but decided to keep quiet and let the blond reploid explain later, since she can speak his language better.

"Now then," Dr. Gate grabs a plastic tube, "who would like to-"

Yugi had left the sanctuary of Nikore's arm and was already in the chair before anyone could say anything, giggling.

"Okay then," the doctor said slowly, "Pull up your shirt and lower your pants a bit to expose your belly."

Yami growled at that, but Nikore put a hand on his arm, still reading her magazine, to quiet him down. Dr. Gate put some warm gel on Yugi's protruding belly before pressing the hand-held device into his skin.

"Let's see here," Gate mused, looking at the screen, "I'm guessing that either your bodies made a womb for the baby to be in or the muscles of your abdomens have created a substitute to put the baby in, so it may be a little diffi-ah! Here we are."

Yami got up from his seat to look at the monitor, which showed black and white pictures that were moving about. Nikore put a bookmark in her magazine and got up as well to explain to the yamis what was going on.

"The stick the doc has in his hand sends sounds into Yugi's belly and come back into the computer to make out the shape of his insides," she said, "This also helps him determine if all is well with the baby."

"Correct," Gate replied, looking a bit closer at the screen, "Your kid is sucking his thumb right now. All seems to be alright, the heartbeat is good.... Do you want to know the sex?"

"Yami," Yugi asked, looking at his guardian, who was looking at the screen, tears in his eyes. He nods.

The doctor moves the device around, then announce it was a boy. There were a few small cheers at that, and Yami hugs his Aibou while whispering a 'thank you for bearing my son' in his ear so o one else would hear it. Yugi hugs him back while trying not to get Yam's shirt sticky with the gel, and Dr. Gate hands the tri-color teen some towels to clean off.

"The bathroom's over there by the way," the reploid pointed to a door, and Yugi hastefully gets up and runs into it. Yami sits down and pulls his shirt up and slides his pants down a little, jumping as he heard a low whistle.

"Marik," Malik growled at his sly koi.

"Couldn't help it koishii," Yami Malik grinned, ignoring the death glare from both Malik and Yami. Dr. Gate puts the gel on Yami's stomach and goes to work finding his kid. It didn't take long, and he notices that the child had his/her fingers entwined, which was odd to find a fetus doing. Then the baby began waving his arms and he turned after hearing a yelp as Yami Malik held his nose, Yami looking surprise, then petted the dry part of his belly.

"Very good sweetie," he cooed, Dr. Gate watching the child react to his/her mother's appraisal.

"You're teaching your kid Shadow Magic," Seto looked at the former pharaoh disapprovingly, Yami Malik looking shock, then pissed.

"Your stupid kid hit me with Shadow Magic," he accused. He got hit in the head with an unused bottle of warmed gel that flew off the shelf.

"That's enough," Yami glared at his belly, feeling the magic of his infant fading. Nikore didn't like the idea of the infants with Shadow Powers, despite being half yamis, and decided to ask Lyla for a spell later on that would put a hold on them until they were old enough to control them properly. Yugi came out, unaware of what happened, and looked at the monitor as the infant moved his/her arms around.

"Besides the weirdness that happened," Dr. Gate informed, getting a confused look from Yugi before he was told by Yami via mindlink, "The baby's seems alright. The sex is... a girl. Congrads."

"Thank you," Yami replied, taking the paper towels and wiping his stomach, then went to the bathroom as Ryou sat down for his turn.

"Next person," Dr. Gate sighed as Ryou assumed position and the doctor took out the tape of the Motous' children and popped in a new one, "Here we go."

Bakura was amazed as he looked at his unborn child playing with his/her feet, then turn to face them as he/she curled up to sleep. The doctor declared it was a healthy girl, and Ryou thanked him before making his own trip to the bathroom with towels in hand just as Yami left the tiny room.

"Can you make this quick," Malik whined as the reploid doctor marked the tapes so he wouldn't get them mixed up, then puts in another one.

"I'll try," Dr. Gate said honestly, cleaning his device and picking up a secondary bottle of warm gel. Yami Malik giggles as he watch his child play with what the reploid called the umbilical cord. He giggled even more when they were told it was a boy.

"I fathered a boy," he told Bakura in a sing-song voice, which annoyed the former Tomb Robber.

"My daughter will beat your son up any day of the week when they're old enough," the white-haired demon snarled, and the two get into an argument. Malik rushes to the bathroom just as Ryou opened the door, not even bothering with cleaning his stomach. Joey looks at his koi nervously, who smiles lovingly at him and kisses his hand.

"You'll do fine puppy," the brunette assured, then Joey sat down and exposed his belly.

"The embryo may not come up because of the stage in it's development," Dr. Gate warned, "but I'll do my best to find it."

"Okay," the blond replied, Nikore giving him an encouraging smile before trying to break up the former tomb robbers' argument. At first, all the doctor could see was blackness, then he found some patches of white. He studied then for a moment, finally making out a small fetus ten weeks old, then widen his eyes a bit at a startling discovery.

"What is it doctor," Seto asked, not really making out the pictures himself.

"I can't be certain yet," Dr. Gate began slowly, "but I think Joey may be carrying twins."

Seto's mouth dropped open, Joey's eyes widening in joy, while Nikore takes a look for herself while the other bearers looked up questionably.

"I think you're right," the blond femme said, "I can't be entirely certain, but I think it's either going to be con-joint twins or identical twins, by the way it looks."

"Looks like Kaiba beat all of us to the punch," Bakura snorted. Seto smiled with joy a the idea of two children and would have to thank his puppy in his own way later.

"I will need to speak to each of you privately to discuss parenting class schedules and birthing matters," Dr. Gate said as he gave Joey the last of the paper towels and gave each of the fathers-to-be a tape and pictures of the sonogram, "You know where my office is."

* * * *

After an hour of discussions, everyone was at the Kaiba Mansion's living room to discuss what happened.

"We're all scheduled for classes on Saturday at the hospital's teaching room," Ryou said, looking at everyone's schedules.

"I won't be able to make it to all of these," Seto groaned, for his company was in the mists of working on KaibaLand in the United States and will have to work long nights and may have to go there when construction's complete to coronate the opening ceremonies.

"That's alright Seto," Joey cuddled into his lover, "We'll do what we can. They also have lessons on CDs if you want."

"That will work," the CEO grinned, holding his koi protectively, "I want to be the best father out there for our little ones."

"Ech," Bakura almost spat at the loving display, before taking Ryou into his arms to block his view.

"I suggest watching Birth Day on Discovery Health (A/N: Don't own the show or the channel) to get all the info you'll need on labor and such," Nikore informed, "By the way, where and how do you guys want to give birth, for I was told you will turn into girls and be able to have vaginal births."

"I'll stick with the hospital," Yugi said quietly, Yami hugging him, "I prefer not to take any chances."

"Same here," Yami agreed, "As much as I hate them, I don't want my hikari to be alone there."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Ryou reassured with a smile, "As for me, I'm gonna keep up family tradition and have a water birth at home. My father is still in contact with the midwife that helped my mother birth me, so I'm in good hands."

"Wouldn't the baby drown," Bakura asked, wanting to know more about his tenshi's family traditions when they got home.

"The baby lives in a liquid solution while it is in the mother's womb," Nikore explained, "It won't take it's first breath until the umbilical cord is severed, so it'll be alright underwater."

"I think I'll do hospital too," Malik said, Joey nodding in agreement as well, "I don't really remember any of my family's traditions, and I don't think I would like to know."

"It's alright Malik," Joey said in understanding.

"Enough about that already," Tristen, who met them along the way, said to change the subject, "Let's order some pizza and plan some baby showers!"

"Yeah," Yugi agreed.

* * * *

"Danks fer coming wit us Tris," Joey said with a smile as he, said dark brunette, and Seto walked into the hospital, "I'm certain Ryu here will pass out anytime soon fer worryin' so much abou' little ol' me."

Seto growled at him with a glare, pulling his puppy closer while Tristen laughed.

"Don't worry about it," he replied, "My mom's a doctor, so I know what's coming up and besides, if things work out as planned, I may be catching up wit' ya."

"Really," the blond's eyes widened, "Who?"

"Um," Tristen blushed, "That's gonna surprise ya, for it's someone you didn't expect."

"Tris," Joey growled as they walked into the classroom, "It betta' not be mah sistah or-"

"Don't worry," the dark brunette held his hands up in defense, "It's not! It's someone you didn't expect."

"Hi sweetie."

Joey's eyes widened and his jaw dropped as Mai Valentine walked up and gave Tristen a kiss on the cheek. Tristen's blush darken as his best friend sputtered, then blurt out, "When did dis-!"

"I see I surprise you hon," the blond femme duelist winked, giving him a kiss on the cheek before everyone cracked up laughing.

"Since when," Joey asked after taking a few breaths to calm down.

"A few months," Mai answered, "I had taken a modeling job for awhile, but I got bored and now I'm staying here to take lessons to become a full-time midwife nurse. It's my calling now, besides Duel Monsters. You?"

"Two and a half months," Joey confessed, blushing.

"Jump the gun a bit didn't ya," Mai commented, saying nothing more for her boyfriend told her everything that happened. They sat down among their friends and Seto noticed for the first time Nikore was there with Yami in her lap and Yugi on her side. What shocked him even more was Mokuba in front of them with some girl he thought he had seen before, but couldn't remember her name.

"Mokuba," he exclaimed, getting his little brother's attention, "What are you doing here?!"

"My best friend's sister Mary needed to come and her fiancé couldn't make it," the raven-haired child confessed, blushing because he just so happened to be dating that friend without his siblings noticing and glad Mary would keep her silence on it, "I agreed to go with her as a favor to him."

"Oh," Seto said, greeting the pale brunette, then turned towards his sister.

"A month," was all Nikore said, and the eldest Kaiba took it as a month of dating. Except the Kaiba siblings, no one knew that Seto remembers many parts about his past, despite his beliefs that people should forget about the past and move on to the future. With that in mind, he didn't need to question her relationship with the two tri-color teens.

"Good afternoon everyone," a nice-looking young woman said as she stood before the seated parents-to-be, "My name is Mrs. McKinsky and I'll be your parenting teacher for the next twelve Saturdays. These classes are merely to prepare you for what is to come in the near future with all the little bundles of joy waiting to appear in the world."

"Where's Ryou," Malik whispered to Yugi, not seeing the white-haired teen around.

"He's getting lessons at home," Yugi replied.

* * * *

Bakura looked intently at the TV as he and Ryou watch that show that Nikore suggested, wondering if this is what his mother went through with him. His koi laid on his chest, their cat Blizzard resting comfortably on his lap, as they watch the mother give birth to a baby boy in the bath tub.

"Isn't he gorgeous," Ryou awed, taking his yami's hand and lacing their fingers together.

"He ain't going to be as gorgeous as our daughter when she makes her debut," Bakura grinned, rubbing his tenshi's large belly. Ryou giggled, then snuggled further into Bakura's embrace when the doorbell rang. Both teens groaned and James decided to answer it. He opened the door and gasped in surprise at the visitor.

"Hello James," a woman in her mid fifties with silver/black hair and gentle green eyes greeted, "It has been so long."

"Julie," James greeted, hugging her and letting her in. Ryou looked up at the name of the woman and smiled, getting up and greeting her as she walked into the living room. Bakura looked at the woman and became very defensive, not sure who this person was and can she be trusted.

"It's okay Bakura," Ryou smiled, despite liking how his husband was being so protective of him and their child, "This is Julie, my mother's midwife."

"Pleasure," the former tomb robber grunted, shaking her hand. Julie gave him a smile and she sat down next to the teens, glancing at the TV for a moment.

"This is a very good show to get all the information you may need on the labor process," she comments, then pulls out a book from her bag, "Now then, I have been informed by Dr. Mikameru on what's going to happen when you go into labor Ryou, and I must say it'll make my job alot easier to do, despite the fact I never helped a boy give birth before."

"We decided to keep up with family tradition and have it here," Ryou said, snuggling into Bakura's arms.

"Ah, the old family tradition," Julie smiled warmly, "I remember when your mother gave birth to you. It was right here in this house and she also wanted a water birth as well. She did so beautifully."

"What is this family tradition you keep talking about," Bakura asked, thinking it's the right time to.

"My family has had the tradition of giving birth to our children underwater for many generations Bakura," James explained, "since the days of my family in England use to take their wives to our family's lake along with a priest to give birth and bless the child at the same time. When I married Sora, however, my family disapproved of it since she was not of British blood, so I was practically disowned."

"Really father," Ryou exclaimed, "I never knew that at all."

"Well, that would explain why none of them want to see you at all," James said sadly, "but I loved your mother and I would make the same sacrifice again and again. I moved to Japan to live with her and we married. A few years alter, she wanted to do a water birth, even though I told her she didn't had to, but she wanted to make me happy, so I agreed."

"We designed the bathroom so well," the elderly woman picked up, remembering, "Your father was crying by the time I had delivered you."

James blushed at that, ignoring Bakura's snicker. The midwife then went through her book to the first page she marked and decided to begin.

An hour later, she said her good-byes and the Bakuras decided to go to the hospital like she had suggested for more info during the classes, the others acknowledging them quietly so the teacher can talk without being interrupted.

"Now then," Mrs. McKinsky said as she pulled over a TV and VCR stand, "We'll be watching a film on the miracle of life, provided by the hospital for your first look at what's ahead for all of you. Then, we'll be discussing on the many options you will have when the big day comes for all of you once the film is over."

"This should be interesting," Mai said, snuggling into Tristen's arms.

"You should leave ototo-chan," Nikore warned, "This will not be pretty."

"I know," Mokuba replied, "but I don't wanna leave Mary here all by herself."

"Thanks Mokuba," Mary smiled warmly at him.

"My bra itches," Joey whined softly enough so no one would hear him. The pregnant males had to dressed as women in order to participate and make sure no other doctors found out and cage them like experimental guinea pigs.

The lights went out as the film began, first starting how babies came to be, then moving on the development and what happens to the mother as time progresses. Yami Malik and Bakura were looking at the swelling uterus oddly while Yami was watching intently, as if he were burning the information into his memory. Joey and Mokuba were wondering if this was what their mothers went through, and Seto was too busy resting on his koi shoulder to watch, but was listening.

"Upon the time of the due date," the narrator said as the scene changes, "The mother may feel some pre-labor contractions, which help the muscles in her uterus get ready for when she hits full labor. This will begin when the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby breaks from it's sack, which is referred to as 'The Water Breaking.'"

The scene changed to a hospital scene, where a mother on a stretcher was being rolled into a delivery room, screaming profanities at her husband.

"YOU ASSHOL," she roared, "YOU DID THIS TO ME! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS YOU BASTARD!"

Bakura's jaw dropped, looking down at Ryou and imagining his koi in that position while Yami Malik looked scared. Yami was busy comforting Yugi at the idea of all the pain they may be going through while Nikore held them both, whispering reassurances to her kois. Tristen looked nervously at Joey who was grimacing as the woman began to push and Seto hid his face in his fiancée's shirt as they gave a good view of the baby's head that was covered in white fluids and blood, Joey comforting him.

"Did I look like that coming out," Mokuba asked, very curious as the nose and mouth was being cleaned.

"More or less," Nikore answered, "like the rest of us."

"OH GOD," the actress giving birth screamed, "GET IT OUT OF ME!"

Malik had to stop his koi before he ran out of the room while Ryou made certain that Bakura didn't faint. The woman gave one more scream and the baby gave it's first cry. Yugi and Yami cooed at the infant while Bakura finished his make-out kiss with Ryou.

"How come the women on that show didn't scream like that," he asked quietly.

"That's real life," Ryou explained, laying his head on the broad chest, "This is fake."

"Oh. Hey, where Marik go?"

* * * *

She had been planning this for so long. She had made many deals, paid off the guards, and did other things she wasn't proud of and don't want to do again, but everything was in readiness.

'Soon now,' she thought, sitting in the darkness of her prison, 'Very soon now. Revenge will be mine.'

* * * *

"Here's the mail Mr. Kaiba," a servant said as he gave the mail to Seto. Going through the letters, he found the one from the hospital he had been waiting for, the one that will tell him the results of the paternity test he and Joey did on their children.

When Nikore got home, she was shocked to find his fiancée showing signs of pregnancy a week too early and both males became worried that the ones that raped the blond may be the father. Seto didn't care if he was going to end up raising children that weren't his own, but Joey was scared and he agreed to have the test done.

With slightly shaking hands, he opened the letter and began to read. As he progressed through the report, his lips curled into a smile and went to look for his koi, who was lying on their bed watching TV. Smiling warmly at the sight of his koi wearing a thin t-shirt and sweats, his belly swollen and peeking out of the shirt, hair mussed and eyes sleepy as the show was about to end.

Joey looks up at Seto and smiles as his dragon crawls onto the bed and towers over him on his hands and knees, giving him tender kisses. Joey wrap his arms around his koi, lowering him gently so they were flush against one another, mindful of the bundle between them.

"What brought this on," Joey asked, then took the papers from Seto's hands. He gasps as he saw that from the lists of men that slept with him, forcefully and consensual, and Seto was the only one positive in being the father. "Oh Seto...."

"Told you my sperm beat them all," the brunette grinned pridefully, then the two began their dance just as the news came on.

"We interrupt your regularly scheduled program for this special announcement," the anchor woman announced.

* * * *

The woman ran as fast as she could, diving into the nearby stream to escape the hound dogs chasing her. The dogs lost her scent as she floated away and ran somewhere else, leaving the woman to swim until she was by the highway leading back to Domino City.

"Finally," she grinned, "I'm free."

TBC

Author's Notes: Now you guys know what everyone's having I need help in picking out Ryou and Malik's kids' names. I have a few suggestions right now, but I want to wait a few more chapters before I pick. As always, the person who suggested the names are use will be given credit for in the chapter that the names are first used.

Next chapter: Yugi and the gang meet someone new, who Lyla dislikes on the first sight. Malik's family gets an unexpected visitor and the Motous go shopping while Seto renovates their home as an Easter gift to make room for the babies, which something horrifying happens. I can't say anymore without giving it away. Ja ne!