Title: You Can Cope
Author: Blemery
Rating: PG-13?
Pairing(s): S/J
Beta: anubiset
Spoilers: none

---

Seto's work weekend finished early when the man he was making a deal with was all too eager to sign. After checking the rest of his work load he knew that he could spare the time to spend the last day of the weekend with his little boy. The only problem was that he couldn't seem to find his little boy.

It was very early in the morning, when he arrived at Ryou's apartment so he let himself in. Ryou and Bakura were still asleep on the arm chair. Seto's brother and his lovers were still naked and asleep on the couch, but Tristan and Duke had left. Seto was not pleased by this display but he decided to drop it. He just wanted Dray home.

After searching the apartment Seto woke Ryou and consequently Bakura. "Seto, Ryou needs to sleep."

"Where's Dray?" Seto ignored Bakura.

Bakura growled. "How should I know? I was sleeping?"

Seto glared. He would have raised his voice but Ryou yawned and wandered to the back of the apartment to the room Dray always stayed in. Ryou ran back into the living room panicked seconds later. "Bakura! Dray is gone!"

"Ryou calm down." Bakura instructed but it was no use.

"Bakura! He's gone! How can I have a baby if I lose a five-year old?" Ryou sobbed.

Bakura ushered Ryou to sit and he tried to console him. "Look at what you did." Bakura scolded Seto when his attempts did nothing.

"ME! You LOST my son!" Seto yelled.

The yelling woke Marik, Malik, and Mokuba. Malik flushed and dragged his clothes on. Mokuba followed his example. "The kid is gone?" Marik asked.

Seto turned his glare on them, "You shouldn't be fooling around in a room that Dray can walk into."

"But the movie was so boring," Marik countered.

"Marik," Mokuba scolded. "Where's Yami? Dray was with him?"

"Oh god someone kidnapped Dray and Yami! Yugi's going to murder me!" Ryou cried.

Seto sighed. He did feel bad for making Ryou so upset especially in his condition. "No, Ryou calm down. I think maybe we should call over at Yami's and see if he knows where Dray is."

Ryou blinked teary eyes up at Seto. "I'm so sorry!" He sobbed running over to hug Seto around his middle.

Seto growled reaching down to pet Ryou. Luckily for him Yami and Yugi entered the apartment. Even though it was earlier and Yugi had been up late the young duelist wanted to apologize to Ryou as soon as possible.

Yami cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "What's going on? Why is Ryou hysterical? Why is Seto here? And why are you three dressed?"

"Dray's gone and it's all my fault." Ryou sobbed loudly.

Yugi giggled. He moved over to Ryou and pulled him away from Seto. He hugged him tightly. "No, no sweetie. He called Joey last night. He missed him. Joey came immediately to pick him up and take him home. Didn't Tristan tell you?"

"Tristan isn't here." Seto answered.

"Oh well Joey didn't want to wake Ryou because of the baby. And he didn't even want to look at those three so he woke Tristan and Duke to tell them that he was taking Dray home." Yugi said. He pulled back from Ryou. "I'm sorry Ryou."

Ryou wiped his eyes. "It's okay Yugi. I know you're scared. I'm kinda scared too. But this is something I have...I want to do."

"I know." Yugi nodded. "And I can't stop you. Especially now. I hope nothing bad happens but if something did I wouldn't want to lose my last chance to be your friend or anything."

Ryou smiled. "Nothings going to happen, I'm glad we're friends again though."

"Aww, touching." Marik rolled his eyes.

Seto patted Yugi's shoulder. "Thanks for the message. I'm heading home. Sorry about earlier Ryou I forgot how emotional pregnant males can be."

Seto didn't rush home but he got home as quickly as he could. After a sweep of the rooms that Joey and Dray might be he finally made it to his and Joey's bedroom. He was quiet when he entered which was good because both of his boys were sound asleep cuddled up in bed together.

Sighing Seto toed his shoes off and changed out of his business suit into pajamas. He didn't want to be anywhere else right now so it only seemed appropriate that he crawl into bed with the boys. He wiggled in putting Dray in between him and Joey. The little boy had his head rested on Joey's chest and his arms around his middle. He was peacefully asleep and it looked to Seto that the two had worked out whatever jealousy had remained.

Staying on his side of the bed Seto rolled onto his back and closed his eyes ready to take a short nap. "Seto?" Joey whispered softly. Having Dray so close and not wanting him to wake Joey had to be very quiet.

"Joey." Seto turned back over on his side facing him. He gave the blonde a small kiss. "I missed you so much. Don't leave again promise me."

"I can't promise that, but no human will ever be able to take me away from you." Joey promised what he could. "Are you okay?"

Seto nodded lightly. "When I went to pick Dray up, he wasn't there. Tristan wasn't either. I was scared that I wouldn't see him again."

Joey grimaced. "That's a terrible feeling. The worse, even if it's a false alarm. I'm sorry I should have called you. Dray said you were away on business so I didn't want to disturb you. I would have called you later today though."

"It's alright. You're safe and he's safe so it doesn't matter." Seto force a little smile. Joey could understand that even though Seto knew it was already he probably felt a little nervous still.

"Daddy?" Dray spoke up blinking his little eyes open. "Daddy!" He squealed and jumping awake and hugging his Dad. Dray was certain that this was proof that life with Joey around was better. Seto was home early and that made him happy.

"Hey Dragon. I heard you called Joey last night. Did something happen at Bakura's?" Seto asked petting and kissing his son's head.

"He yelled at me for looking at Ryou. I was lonely. I missed you, but I knew you were busy. I missed Joey too, and he said I could call him anytime." Dray explained. "Did I do the wrong thing?"

"No, sweetheart you didn't." Seto assured his son. "I was just curious about why you're here and not at Bakura's that's all."

Joey smiled at the two. He knew it would be a long while before he and Dray were as close as Dray and Seto were but it was something he was looking forward to. It wouldn't be long now that Dray accepted him. Soon they would be hard pressed to remember a time without each other.

"What?" Seto asked glancing at Joey's admiring look.

"It's just I can't believe, we're finally a family." Joey said softly. "I still don't remember being pregnant, but I defiantly remember wanting a family with you. And now we have one."

Seto smiled slightly. "And we have you too Joey," Dray beamed. "I think, I always wanted you too, I just didn't know it."

The two older men laughed lightly. "That's exactly what I was thinking," Seto agreed.

Although he had at one point wanted a family with Joey, before Joey returned Seto was pretty certain that he didn't need Joey around in order to take care of Dray. And while Seto wasn't sure if he'd ever really wish for Joey to have those years back (he didn't want to lose his strong bond with his son). He knew now that even when he was at his strongest, he had ALWAYS wanted Joey back.

---

The day Ryou had his baby he requested that Yugi be in the room with him, Bakura and the doctors. Ryou wanted Yugi to be there so the little man knew Ryou was okay.

Ryou had to take the necessary pain killers to reduce the pain of the c-section but he still remained mostly aware of what was going on around him. Yugi held his hand.

Bakura puked several times at the excitement and at the sight of someone else causing his hikari to bleed. He was worried about the loss of blood because he remembered that Joey had passed on because he had lost too much blood.

Bakura's eyes widened at the lump they pulled out of Ryou. The doctor's had to induce a cry from the infant but other than that the baby was perfectly healthy. Bakura even cut the umbilical cord. Then he followed the doctor with the bloody, screaming, demon, as Bakura referred to the baby.

"Are you feeling okay, Ryou?" Yugi asked wiping his friend's brow.

"I am. Thanks Yugi," Ryou was stitched back up and cleaned before he saw the baby or Bakura again. He was wheeled into the recovery room behind the pair and transferred to the bed. Then the doctor brought the baby over, Ryou was careful when the baby was placed in his arms.

Bakura bounded over and sat next to the pair in the bed. "She's so cute, huh Ryou. I already got to hold her. And clean her a little bit."

The nurse giggled softly and handed Ryou the bottle. "We've found that it's good for male mother's to feed their baby's. It helps strengthen their bond."

Ryou nodded. "I'm going to get everyone in the waiting room," Yugi chirped.

Ryou smiled at Yugi he knew it would be good to not keep the other boys waiting. Bakura leaned in close to watch Ryou as he coaxed their baby to eat. The nurse set about making adjustments until Ryou was successful and a herd of friends entered the room.

"Bakura!" Dray wiggled from Seto's arms and raced to Bakura's side of the bed, "That was fast!"

Bakura raised a brow, "It took nine months."

"We just got here." Joey explained. "Picked Dray up ten minutes ago."

"Oh," Bakura reached down to drag Dray onto the bed.

"Good job, Bakura," Yami congratulated

Ryou pouted, "Bakura didn't do anything."

"I think you did a good job," Joey ruffled his hair. Besides Yami, Yugi, Seto, Dray and Joey; Tristan, Duke, Tea, serenity, Mokuba, Marik, and Malik were making themselves comfortable.

"What are you going to name her?" Tea asked cheerfully. She had come down from Odaiba to be supportive of her friends.

Ryou shrugged. "Bakura you should pick."

"Oh great that kid will remain nameless for longer than Dray was," Tristan joked. Bakura glared and Joey hit Tristan in the shoulder for teasing Seto. "Ow." Tristan whimpered.

"I'll think of a good name," Bakura insisted.

Dray leaned over to look more closely at the baby. The baby had stopped feeding and was squirming about watching Ryou and people around. "Does she do anything?" Dray asked.

"Well not really," Ryou whispered, "But she is alive and soon she'll be doing much more."

Dray leaned closer putting a hand on Ryou's stomach. "I like her."

"Good, you're going to help me take care of her?" Ryou asked.

"I'll play with her," Dray agreed.

Ryou giggled, "Bakura, do you want to hold her again?" Bakura agreed carefully taking his baby from Ryou. Dray squirmed around to get on Ryou's side and out of the way. This caused the blanket to come lose and fall to the floor. Yami picked up the blanket immediately standing back up to a gapping room.

Then a bubble of giggles came from Yugi and Ryou. The girls quickly joined. Bakura's eyes narrowed on Marik when he started to laugh. "Stop!"

Yami remained as calm as ever, "Bakura did you tell Ryou that the baby was a girl?"

"Yes." Bakura frowned taking the new blanket that Joey had retrieved from the baby bag. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Ryou assured.

"Nothing!" Tea exclaimed, "You're going to let Bakura go around thinking that your son is a girl."

"A boy!" Bakura sweated. "But the doctor told us before he was born that it was a girl."

"That's why I'm not laughing." Yami explained. "I know that these machines are confusing."

"The doctor was wrong 'Kura. This baby is a boy," Ryou said sweetly.

"He has a penis," Dray agreed.

"I know he has a penis!" Bakura snapped. Dray flinched at the yell.

"I didn't know..." Bakura flushed, "I just thought that the doctor knew more than I did."

"That's usually a good bet. It is difficult however to see inside a person." Seto jested.

Joey went unnoticed when he picked Dray up from the bed. He moved back to the other side of the room and sat down in a chair. Joey comforted Dray silently as everyone else took turns looking and holding the baby.

---

"Mokuba I'm so bored," Marik whined a few hours later. He was playing with the remote for the bed.

Ryou was feeding his son again and talking with Yugi, Tristan, and tea. The moving bed only slightly bothered him.

Mokuba looked up from his conversation with his brother, "Where's Malik?"

"I don't know." Marik whined some more.

"Marik you're making my baby sick!" Bakura punched him in the gut. Marik yelped and threw the bed remote at Tea's head.

"Tea, are you okay?" Yugi asked. The young woman was hit in the nose. She was now bleeding and half the room was giggling.

"I think, we better get going." Mokuba said. He politely said good-bye and dragged Marik out of the room.

"But what about Malik?" Marik's whined even though he didn't honestly care.

"I think we should go too," Seto said. Tea also thought about leaving until Yugi offered to help her clean up.

"Bye Ryou, bye baby-Yukiru," Dray hugged both. He was still upset that Bakura had yelled at him so he didn't say good-bye to him. Joey said good-bye to the generally group and Seto didn't bother. Seto held the door open for Joey and Dray. Joey had a bouncing smirking Egyptian hi his arms as soon as he left the room.

"Doctors are such sadists! He wanted to stick needles in me and give me a hand job." Malik gestured his thumb in the direction of the doctor.

"Malik, Mokuba already went home," Joey tugged Malik off of him. "He and Marik are probably making out in the limo."

"What?" Malik pouted.

"Dad what's a hand job?" Dray asked innocently taking Seto's hand.

Seto narrowed his glare on Malik. The Egyptian darted away ignoring the glare with practiced ease.

"It's a sex thing," Joey explained.

"Ew," Dray made a face. "Do you do that with Dad?"

"No," Joey reassured. "He spends too much time kissing me."

"Ew," Dray giggled. Joey laughed as well.

They exited the hospital. Seto hung up his call to their driver. He couldn't help but smile at Joey and Dray's conversation.

"How did you like the baby?" Seto asked.

"He was okay. Bakura liked him." Dray said; after all, he as still unhappy with Bakura for yelling at him. So he sounded like he didn't care for the baby.

Seto lofted a brow. He didn't even remember the incident. "Are you jealous?"

"No, I'm not jealous," Dray huffed. He jumped into the limo crossing his arms bitterly over his chest.

Joey elbowed Seto warning him with a look. "Bakura's just excited. Babies need lots of attention," Joey explained.

"I know," Dray sighed leaning against the door.

"What happened?" Seto asked. He still didn't understand what was going on.

"Bakura yelled at me," Dray pouted.

"He did?"

"Right when Bakura realized that his child was a boy," Joey explained.

"Well he was just embarrassed, Dray." Seto sympathized.

Joey nodded in agreement. "But he could have yelled at one of us not our cute little boy."

"Joey," Dray wrinkled his nose at the kiss he received.

"Hmm," Seto agreed.

"You're not getting a kiss," Joey teased.

Dray leaned over Joey to give his dad the kiss Joey wouldn't give him. Seto smiled smugly at Joey.

"We're working today?" Dray asked when the limo stopped in front of Kaiba Corp.

"I'm just running up for a few minutes," Seto reassured.

"We'll be here for hours," Joey whimpered.

"You'll live pup," Seto got out of the lime on his side and the two males followed suit.

"Let's pester the front desk lady," Joey planned with Dray. Seto hurried to the office door. Joey and Dray took their time planning their office escapades.

"Kaiba!" A man stepped onto the sidewalk. Seto paused at the door looking at the man who had called him. He couldn't remember the man so he turned away and kept walking.

Dray however did recognize him, "Stop, Dad Stop!" He cried. It wasn't too long ago that this man had threatened his life. Seto didn't bother. He didn't believe that this man or any could be a threat to him.

"You ruined my life!" He yelled. A second later two shots rang out.

"Dray!" Joey reached for his son. Seto's attention was caught then. The gunman was gone in a near second. He used Seto's limo to escape, Seto's driving being an accomplice.

"Dray, Dray," Seto knelt on the sidewalk. He carefully adjusted the boy so that he was holding him gently. It was clear that he had been shot once in the gut. He was bleeding profusely, staining his shirt. Joey stood to call for an ambulance.

"Dad it hurts." Dray whined.

"It's going to be okay," Seto tried to reassure.

"Daddy," Dray didn't know how to explain the pain he was in. He wanted to believe that he was okay like Seto told him. "Dad, I love you."

Seto coughed back tears. He felt helpless, worried, and panicked. He recalled a scene similar to this. "Dray, be quiet." He ordered not because he believed that staying quiet would help Dray but it would help him.

Joey finished talking to the dispatchers. He knelt beside Seto torn between comforting Seto and helping his son.

"Joey?" Dray grabbed his hand. "Is it okay? Can I call you Mom?"

"Sure Dray. I would like it if you called me mom." Joey squeezed his hand. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Dray even as he withered in pain. "I love you, Dray."

"Joey?" Seto was worried about how he was acting. It was deterred when Dray gasped for a breath. "Dray you need to relax. Just calm down you need to be okay."

"Dad it hurts." Dray explained. He squirmed from the pain.

"Dray, hold on. Joey, do something." Seto desperately grabbed for any help he could think of.

Joey pulled his shirt off and pressed it to the bullet hole. It was over flowing with blood and Joey hoped that he could stop it.

"Daddy," Dray squeezed his arm. "I don't want to hurt."

"Dray shh sweetheart. Help is coming just hold on. I can't lose you," Seto spoke as tears fell from his cheeks.

Dray closed his eyes taking a shaky breath, "Daddy I'm sorry."

"Dray! Dray!" Seto shook him hard. "Dray! Son."

"Seto," Joey tried to drag him away his hysteria was not helping. The paramedics had arrived and Seto wouldn't let them near him. "Let them help. Let them save him."

"Joey," Seto hissed. He trusted Joey finally letting his grip on Dray go. "My little dragon."

"Seto, I'm sorry." Joey wrapped his arms around Seto's waist embracing the weeping man.

"I love him. I love him. I don't, he can't leave. Please, I love him." Seto sobbed.

"I'm sorry, Seto."

The end.

---

A/N: I hope that ended on an angst note. Whether or not Dray survives is up to what the reader really wants. I felt bad about doing this, but I thought it would be poetic to make the fic come full circle. I may try to find a beta for this fic now that it's finished. That way I can clean up the grammar and sentence structure.