Authoress Babblings: At the request of my friend, and the BEST writer of all time, Animatess, I have written an epilogue. This is really cute, and I hope you all agree. And look for the upcoming sequel "Summer Days, Driftin' Away". That'll be up within the next month. So, ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I still don't own YGO or its characters, and I probably never will. Darn!

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Dueling Hearts

Epilogue: At the House

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At midnight, they were still strolling down the streets hand in hand. All around them, friends said goodbye and couples kissed each other goodnight, but for Joey and Mai, the night was far from over.

When the last lamp and light were extinguished, they found themselves in front of Joey's house. The jewel colors in the sky were still bright and the stars sparkled clearly through them.

"Wanna stargaze?" he asked, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Sure," she smiled and sat down with him on the grass. Joey draped his jacket over her shoulders and then sat there just staring into her eyes. "What?"

"Nothin'," he grinned, "Just stargazin'."

"You!" she laughed and playfully punched his arm.

"What'd I do?" he asked, jutting his lip out in a pout.

"You're just...too much, that's all!" She said trying to look serious, but melted when she saw his silly grin. "You're too cute!" she laughed and hugged him around the waist, snuggling her head into his chest. He smiled and draped his arm around her shoulders.

"Same to you beautiful," he said and kissed the top of her head. He lingered over her hair and breathed deeply of the sunshine scent. For a while, the pair gazed upward at the diamond pinpoints glittering in the expanse of hued sky. They took turns pointing out constellations and clusters that reminded them of familiar things. Joey actually found one that looked like his Time Wizard and Mai didn't believe him until she found her Harpy's Lady.

"Tired?" Joey asked in response to a huge yawn on Mai's part.

"Mmhm," she sighed, all the excitement of the day finally catching up to her.

"Let's go inside," he offered. "We can, I dunno, watch a movie or somethin'."

"Sure, but it's pretty late. What about your parents?" she asked. Joey blushed and avoided her eyes. "What?"

"I uh...I live by myself," he admitted.

"All alone?" she asked a little shocked.

"Yeah. My folks split up a long time ago. My mom got my sister Serenity, and my...father got me."

"Well, where..."

"They locked him up," he interrupted, wanting to finish this subject quickly. "For...for beating up on me."

"Oh my God," Mai breathed. Disbelief faded and was replaced by shock when she saw the dark look on his face. So this is what he was so shaken up about that day on the island. She had no idea he had been so alone all year. Sure he'd had his friends, but when they weren't around he had no one to fall on and Mai at least had her family around. With her mind made up, she took his hand. "So, we going in or what?"

Joey beamed, glad to let go of a painful topic and that she'd decided to stay. He led her to the door and opened it for her. Mai looked around, impressed that he kept the place up so well.

"You keep the place pretty clean," she commented as they settled on the sofa.

"You add 'for a guy' to that and I'll never kiss you again," Joey warned all the while with a soppy grin on his face. Mai smiled and hugged him.

"Oh yes you would," she purred pressing closer to him.

"What makes you think that?" he asked, feeling his skin heat up.

"Cause if you never kiss me again, I'll never do this again." Thus saying, she got up and pushed him down on his stomach. Her hands lighted on his shoulders and began to massage the muscles. She felt him shudder through the thin T-shirt and he groaned a deep, satisfied sound. She grinned and kneaded his skin a little harder, until she heard him mutter something. "Hmm, what was that?"

"I said 'Curse your feminine wiles'," he murmured, his voice slightly slurred.

Mai smirked and laid her head on his back, moving her hands to his lower back. "Oh you know you love them."

He turned over on his back and gazed at her, his eyes soft. "I know I love you," he whispered, running his hand through her hair. She closed her eyes and leaned forward to eagerly accept his kiss. For a moment they just lost themselves in each other, sharing breath and love.

At the height of the kiss, Joey slid his hand down her side and connected with something. There was a click, and the TV switched on, the volume on full blast. Mai broke the kiss and yelped, clinging to him. Joey's entire body shook as he laughed, holding on to her.

"Stop that! Oh come on, it wasn't THAT funny! I'm SO sure you weren't the LEAST bit surprised!"

"No, it's not that!" Joey insisted between laughs. "It's Cartoon Network!"

Mai fixed him with a strange look. "You still watch cartoons?"

"Sure do, anything wrong that?"

"Well, no but, isn't there an age limit?"

"Nope! Not in my world!" he stated proudly. Smiling, he reclined against the arm of the sofa, opening his arms to her. "Care to veg wit' a big kid?" Mai grinned and snuggled her back against his chest, so he could wrap his arms around her waist.

They went from Bugs and Daffy to Johnny Bravo, all the while laughing like children. After about two hours of this, the TV went off and they just talked, reminiscing about the tournament, and filling each other in on how much they'd missed.

"So how's your sister? Serenity, right?"

"Yeah. She's doin' great. The prize money Yugi won paid for her surgery. And just in time too. She'll see just fine from now on." A short silence passed and he chuckled. "When we were kids, I took her out to this beautiful beach. We stayed there all day, just the two of us, playing and swimming and completely forgetting about our parents wanting to split up. Now she'll see that beautiful shore again. She's coming to spend the summer with me next week."

"That's great. Wish I could meet her," Mai sighed. Joey frowned and turned her chin to face him.

"You will. You'll be around won't you?"

"I don't know..."

"Whaddya mean? Don't you live around here?" he asked.

"No," she said, turning to him. "I live in Kariko. It's close, but I had to take a train to get here. I'd stay if I could...

"Then stay!" Joey pleaded, suddenly clasping her hands. "Mai, I've waited a year for you! I know that this might sound crazy, but I...I don't think I can wait again. I need you here with me."

"I need you too Joey," she said, resting her forehead on his, "but what can I do? I don't have enough money to pay for a room."

"I'll give you some cash to pay for one," he offered.

"No Joey, I can't take your money," she answered. She was yet too proud for that, even now.

"Well," Joey's mind raced. What to do? "You...you can stay here!" he blurted out, but then realized he didn't regret saying it.

"But Joey..."

"No 'buts' yet. Please, just hear me out." Mai studied his face and nodded. Joey took a breath. "We have a guest room, and the master, so there's plenty of room. You won't put me out, and I want you here." He brought her hands up to his lips and kissed them. "It's up to you. Just know that I love you and I want to be with you."

Mai sat in silence, thinking. She wanted to be with him just as much, but stay in his house? She turned it over in her head and decided it wasn't a bad idea. He said she wouldn't put him out, and unless she could think of anything better, this was the best solution. Besides, the look on his face couldn't really be refused. She smiled and brushed his cheek with her fingers.

"Would you mind telling housekeeping that I like my pillows extra fluffy?" she asked grinning.

"'Ey! MY joke!" He laughed and held her tightly.

"Hon, you can't own words."

"So that means you're stayin'?"

"Absolutely, as long as you'll have me. Of course I'll have to go home and get some clothes.

"Some or all? I only have so much closet space y'know."

"Watch it Wheeler," she warned, glaring.

"Or what," he challenged, leaning against the sofa arm.

"Or...I'll...change my mind!" She shot back. A look of panic flashed across his face and she gave herself a mental slap. "Just kidding, really. Sorry."

"You promise?" he asked, pulling her close to him. She responded by pressing her lips to his in a soft kiss. Pulling back, she rested her ear on his ches

"Never been more sure," she sighed, content to listen to the strong thump of his heart. A smile crossed her lips when he began to rub her back in slow sweeping circles. She felt his chest vibrate beneath her cheek as he hummed their song. Everything grew softer as the world's rhythm slowed to match the beat of their hearts, and she slipped away into sleep under the spell of him.

After a while, Joey looked down on her sleeping form. His gaze swept all over her body and came to rest on the gentle smile gracing her lips. He smiled himself to think of how lucky he was to have her. With a deep sigh, he eased himself from beneath her pleasant weight and lifted her from the couch. He walked slowly so he wouldn't wake her, surprised at how light she was. He loved the feel of her soft body cradled in his arms, her hair barely brushing his skin.

Placing her on the bed in the spare room, he tenderly brushed her hair away from her brow. Her thick, dark lashes rested on her ivory cheeks, making her look even more angelic in his eyes. Her hands still clutched his green jacket and he didn't have the heart to take it from her. Unable to stop himself, he leaned down and placed a kiss, soft as a butterfly's wing, on each of her closed eyelids.

"Sweet dreams Mai," he whispered, placing one last kiss on her still smiling lips before leaving the room. The door scraped closed and for a moment, Joey just leaned against it, letting free a dreamy sigh. Then he floated into his room and fell onto the bed, clothes and all. As he slipped into his dreams, he held onto his dream come true. She was here, and she was his. And as long as she wanted him, he would be hers. And they had a whole summer to look forward to.

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I...I...I...I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S DONE!!!! WOW!!!! Done-Duh-Duh-Duh-Done-Duh-Done-DONE!!!!!! I hope you loved it, and I hope you'll love the upcoming sequel, "Summer Days, Driftin' Away"!