From Love Comes Great Joy, Part 9 : You Don't Know What You Had Until It's Gone

'This isn't real.'

Eyes becoming misty.

'This can't be happening.'

One tear slowly slid down a tanned cheek.

'She....she didn't even had a chance! She....my daughter...'

A second tear followed the first, then a third.

'Why Ra, why?'

Eyes became like waterfalls, tears of pain and sorrow cascading and falling onto pure white sheets, making them transparent, but he didn't care.

Yami sat hunched upon his bed, gown in a crumbled heap on the floor and left hand clutching his empty stomach while his right remained in a sling. This would be the second child he had lost, for the first one was back in Egypt. He had just sealed the Shadow Games away when his love Nikolitta told him she was having a child, his first-born, as he faded away from the world. It may have been the same, for he never knew if the child lived or not, but still he never had the chance to hear their first cries, held them for the first time in his arms....

He was so engrossed in his depression, that he didn't even notice the new presence in the room.

"You know," the newcomer picked up the gown, "You really shouldn't be going around in the buff. You could catch a cold."

Yami said nothing as Bakura slid the gown back on him. The former tomb robber made no bad-ass remarks, for he knew he would feel the same way if he lost his child. Still, he needed to tell his former enemy before he decides to do something stupid.

"Your kid still lives pharaoh no baka," Bakura stated, sitting down in a chair nearby. Yami turned his head to look at him, giving him a look of disbelievement.

"You lie," he whispered, voice broken, "It's too soon."

"I ain't lying," Bakura snarled, "Your brat is still alive. The doctors saved her. Now get out of that damn depressing mood so I can show you."

"How," Yami whispered, hope starting to form in his chest.

"The doctors pulled off an infant transfer-something," the white-haired demon explained, "Basically, you going into shock caused your body to start attacking anything foreign in it, including your baby. You went into early labor and they couldn't stop it, so they found a reploid female to act as a surrogate mother. They did surgery and placed your kid inside of her and she will remain in there for the duration of the pregnancy. They docs have the volunteer on bed rest now, but soon she will be able to go home."

Yami couldn't stop the tears of joy from flowing down his cheeks, whispering over and over 'she lives'. Bakura gave him a look, but said nothing as Dr. Gate walked in.

"You're awake," he almost excaimed, writing things down on his chart, "You've been out for four whole days. I was starting to worry that your koibitos would want to move in here with you if you were diagnosed with a coma."

"Can I go see her," Yami asked, fidgeting with the wires connecting him to the machines around him.

"The volunteer," Gate guessed with a silly grin, "Of course you can. Give me a minute to undo the wires and set up a wheelchair for you. You'll be pleasantly surprise who it was that volunteered to be the surrogate mother."

Yami wondered who it could be as he felt the needles pulled out of his skin, heard the shutting down of the computers around him, then Bakura aided him into a wheelchair so they could be off. They took the elevator up two floors and went through a maze of hallways before hearing a familiar voice ringing down the hall from a room.

"I don't give a damn what it takes," it said, "That little bitch's ass is mine when I get my hands on him!"

"Stress isn't good for the baby," another voice chided.

"Then you find the bastard and make him suffer so badly," the first voice, sounding feminine roared, "he will not only rue the day he hurt Yami, but wished he was in hell being the devil's bitch!"

"Please calm down Nikore," a third, sounding like Yugi said, almost pleading, "We will find him and make him pay, but right now, we got to worry about the baby's health first."

Silence. "You're right Yugi."

Bakura wheeled Yami into a lit room, where Nikore laid in a hospital bed, Seto on one side, Yugi on the other with Ryou. Yami noticed that Nikore's belly was no longer flat and instantly knew that she was the volunteer with his child. Dread filled him once more, for his koi had taken up the responsibility that was suppose to be his.

"How are ya feeling," Nikore asked, sitting up.

"Better," Yami replied, "You really didn't-"

"Before you say anything," the blond reploid cut him off, "let me say a few things first: One, I know I didn't had to, but I wanted to. Two, I wasn't gonna let some stranger take the responsibility, since one out of three surrogate pregnancies end up in court since the surrogate mother refuses to give up the child to his rightful parents. Three, it's too late to say anything now, because I'm not giving her back."

Yami was speechless for a moment while Yugi tried to repress the giggle bubbling in his mouth, then he smiled and got out of the wheelchair, hugging his blond koi.

"Thank you so very much," he whispered, voice laced with tears.

"It'll be alright," Nikore stated, "especially once I get my hands on that-"

"I think that will be enough for you young lady," Dr. gate said, walking in with a syringe, "You need your rest, for if all goes well tonight, you can leave in the morning a proud and happy mother-to-be. I will be needing to speak with you Yugi and Yami alone in a minute in my office, then I'll give you clearance to leave. Besides, visiting hours will be over soon."

He injected the substance into the IV connected to Nikore's arm, and soon the middle Kaiba was asleep. Yami was handed his clothes and, with help from Yugi, was fully dressed and the two walked into Dr. Gate's office, hoping whatever news the doctor had was good.

"As you know," Dr. Gate began, "Nikore was a Half-Breed and carried the gene with her in her DNA. Now, normally, we would exclude her in the choices of a surrogate mother, but since she was the only reploid around, we had no other options open for us. I know you both only care about the child's well-being, and I can assure you she is accepting her new environment quite well, that there is a possible chance of Nikore's DNA entering her and, quite possibly, making her a Half-Breed as well."

"How large are the chances," Yami asked softly, holding Yugi's hand. They have heard Half-Breeds don't live for long and the cure for them at this point in time was very expensive. Nikore was very much proof of that.

"Well," Gate sighed, trying to calculate in his mind, "Taking Nkire for example, she was artificially inseminated into her surrogate mother when she was a three-week embryo, so her chances of being a Half-Breed were very high, close to being affirmative, when we calculated at that time. However, Your daughter is four months and two weeks, so her chances of becoming a Half-Breed lower somewhat. She may end up being a quarter reploid if the worst case scenario doesn't occur. I would say your chances of your daughter being born a healthy, human being are fifty/fifty right now. We will have to see later on in the months to follow."

"Thank you doctor," Yugi said as the two bid their farewells and leave, hoping for the best in the future.

* * * *

"What a day," Yami Malik sighed, hanging up the phone. He just got a call from Ryou with good news on Yami's condition as well as the baby's and everything turned out alright. Now Nikore was carrying Yami's child and he kinds felt sorry for her, since she will have to deal with the labor and the other stuff newbie mothers have to deal with.

He heads to his and Malik's room to tell his koi the good news, knowing this might cheer him up from the sudden depression he was in. He didn't know what his lover and Rishid talked about, but it had Malik nervous and depressed, some of the things a pregnant person shouldn't be right now.

Yami Malik opened the door to their room to find it empty. Curious as to where his koi went, he looked around until he heard the sound of water running. Since Isis and Rishid were out for the evening, he knew it had to be Malik. Grinning, the former Tomb Raider (A/N: I'm calling Yami Malik a tomb raider and Bakura a tomb robber, even though they're pretty much the same thing) quietly walked to the bathroom and opened the door, making sure his hikari didn't hear him.

Malik was washing his backside, lost in his own world. His talk with his friend and stepbrother had him thinking of all the problems that can occur during a pregnancy, including his. He didn't want anything to happen to his baby, his greatest treasure next to Yami Malik. He also was worried about his own well being. He didn't want his baby to live without his mother, much like how he did. He sometimes woke up at nights with horrid dreams of something happening during labor, or watching his son grow up without him in his life. He really couldn't tell his koi about these things, because he didn't want to worry him as well. Thus, he kept them to himself.

He jumped as he felt strong arms wrap around his waist, pulling up to a familiar strong chest. Soft kisses were placed on his clean neck, Malik moaning as he felt those familiar lips sucking softly here and there, pleasure flowing through him.

"Koi," Yami Malik whispered into his ear, turning his hikari around to face him. The yami's hair, which was usually spiked, was now soaked with water and hung down his body and almost close to his waist, making him almost look like an older version of Malik. "I just talked to Ryou. Yami and the baby's going to be okay."

"Oh thank Ra," Malik breathed a sigh of relief, "but I thought Yami went into early labor."

"He did," the spirit of the Millennium Rod explained, "but thanks to Nikore and a difficult procedure, they were able to save the baby by having her transferred into Nikore's body. Guess the Pharaoh won't be experiencing labor after all."

Yami Malik look disappointed, making Malik giggle. Him and Bakura will always have a bitter hatred to Yami no matter what, stemming from their days in Egypt when his uncle destroyed their village in order to create the Millennium Items. Since the uncle got permission to do this from Yami's father, the Pharaoh at the time who was not told human sacrifices were needed for the ritual, he was unknowingly and partially responsible for their deaths and thus, the father's sins become the son's if not repent. Malik then notice his koi's expression turn serious and wondered if he did something wrong.

"What has been troubling you these past few days," Yami Malik asked, looking deep into his koi's lavender eyes. Malik swallowed hard, not wanting to say anything, but knew that would make his yami angry. Lying would make it worse, so he had no choice but to say the truth.

"Rishid told me what happened to my mother," he said, trying hard not to cry, "She died giving birth to me."

"I'm so sorry Malik," Yami Malik embraced Malik, voice full of sincerity. No wonder his lovely koi was so upset; he felt that his mother's fate may become his. Not to mention all of the other problems that may occur, such as the baby may be born with a disorder or the doctors may have to do a cesarean section on Malik.

"Ssh love," Yami Malik began, choosing his words carefully, "You and our baby will get through this. We all have to take a risk in everything, for that is life for everyone. However, we can't just keep avoiding these risks and not live our lives to the fullest because of them. I know deep in my heart you and our child will thrive, and we'll be one, big family, like how we always dreamed of having."

Malik sniffled, looking at his yami's calm, gentle face. He was right; he shouldn't be worrying so much and just pray things will keep turning out good for them.

With a cute grin, Yami Malik kissed his koi gently, feeling the urge to make love to the Eyptian tenshi in his arms. Malik complied, feeling the need to do so as well, needing the knowledge that his koi will be there for him more than anything else.

Turning the shower off, but plugging the drain for a bath, Yami Malik laid Malik onto the tub's floor, kissing his throat with such gentleness that Malik never knew he had. It made him feel warm and safe, causing him to harden quicker than normal. His yami grinned at feeling his love's arousal, and trailed kisses downward to Malik's tanned nipples, taking one in his mouth while toying with the other between his fingers. The hikari groaned and twisted his body a bit, feeling nothing like this before. Normally, it was just mere fucking, with a bit of tenderness here and there, but this was different. This was special.

Having enough sense to turn off the water before it overflowed, Yami Malik turned back and instantly was struck by the beauty before him. Malik laid in the water, eyes glossy with pleasure, one leg hanging over the edge of the tub, the other lying on the wall, erection pleading to be touched, belly lush and blooming with their child. He became so hard, he thought he would pop at the sight, his heart ready to burst with all the love he had for his beautiful koi, his founder, his savior.

Lowering himself as best as he could without the faucet pressing into his backside, he licked the tip of his hikari's arousal, causing him to almost jump and moan very loudly, water splashing a bit. With a demonic grin, he licked the underside until he reached the head again, then swallowed the hard member until it poked the back of his throat. Malik screamed, grasping onto the sides of the tub, panting heavily as he felt the familiar build for orgasm wash over him like the water around him. Yami Malik took his time, sucking softly before hard, then softly again. His yami was teasing him was the last coherent thought in Malik's mind before he thrust his hips forward, trying to get more of that sensation. Luckily, Yami Malik was ready for him and manage to keep his gag reflex down so his hikari can fuck his mouth. It was always a turn on for him, for it meant an even more pleasurable thing to come soon.

Malik couldn't take it anymore; the heat, the teasing, and the sucking were too much. He came with a loud cry, emptying himself into his koi's mouth. Yami Malik was anticipating it, drinking it down like he had so many times and still found it as sweet as ever. Once his koi lay bonelessly in the tub, he lifted each leg until they were wrapped around his waist, pressing his fingers into his love's puckered entrance. Malik moaned at the welcome intrusion, the water acting as a lubricant. He felt one finger, then two, and shot up as they brushed his bundle of nerves deep inside. The spirit of the Millennium Rod grinned, then brushed it repeatedly while adding a third finger, until his koi was keening, begging for release to his fully returned erection. With gentleness, Yami Malik removed his fingers, hearing his hikari moan in protest, then slowly entered him.

Malik moaned as he felt that familiar feeling of fullness, of being one with his koi, his other half. He became confused, however, as he noticed his love was not moving at all. Usually, he would be setting a rhythm right now, but he wasn't moving. Just holding him, as if he would disappear if he let go. Yami Malik wanted to stay where he was forever, feeling like he was in heaven whenever he was one with his love. A sudden shift in Malik's hips brought him back to reality, as well as his close-to-being painful erection.

He moved slowly, finding that spot deep inside Malik almost instantly. Malik was in heaven, gasping and crying out his love's name like a mantra as he went deliberately slow for what felt like hours. Soon thought, their speed increase ever so slowly until the water around them was swishing out onto the floor, but neither cared. It was starting to turn cold anyway.

Malik felt the pleasure overriding his senses, his cock trapped between their stomachs and adding more sensation. He didn't know how much more he can take, then his yami hit his prostate one more time with full force, and all he saw was white.

Yami Malik watched his lover scream his release, his face twisting in the heat of passion. The sight was too much for him and he came as well, screaming Malik's name as he filled him to overflow.

Yami Malik held himself up on shaky arms, not wanting to fall onto Malik or their baby. Gathering as much strength as he could, he slowly pull himself out and landed on Malik's side, probably getting them stuck in the bath tub, but not caring. He had something important to ask Malik.

Malik didn't know how long he was out while on his high, but once he came down and back to reality, he was still in the tub with his yami, both squished in and the water freezing. He managed to get up enough to pull the plug and drain the water, then tried to get out to dry himself before he got sick. Yami Malik got up as well, wrapping his koi in a big, fluffy towel before picking him up bride-and-groom style, and walking to their room, not caring that he was still naked. He set his love and mother of his child gently onto the bed and laid down next to him, propping himself on one elbow to look into those lavender eyes and ask him:

"Malik, will you marry me?"

TBC

Author's Notes: Yes, I know. Evil cliffie, but I don't care. I also know that transferring an infant into another woman's womb is impossible, but it's my fic and I do whatever I want, just like everyone else does whatever they want with their own fics. I don't mean to sound rude, but there are some flamers out there waiting for something to flame, so I'm telling them ahead of time to cut them off.

Anyway, I'm looking for a job right now, so I'm not sure when I cna do more updates, probably when school starts again. Next chapter, a double wedding and familiar shadows planning our favorite gang's disaster. Plus, there may be a YxYYxN lemon, as well as a lemon for the couples getting married, but it'll all depend on how I'm feeling. Ja ne!