What's this? Moar? Mooooooaaarr??!?!? Finally up to chapter 20! :D Aaand almost at 1k reads! Me happy ^-^. I've been feeling a bit shitty lately and all the support and votes and stuff just makes me feel a lot better. Anyway, I now present to you, chapter twenty! Laika out

-Seto's POV-

Brice stared at me in amazement, shock clear on his face. I was even more shocked than he was.

My father had been dead for ten years, along with my mum... How is it possible that he's here?

I looked at Brice, who suddenly narrowed his eyes at my dad.

"Wait, I've... met, your dad before. This guy looks nothing like that bastard." he said, uncertainty lacing his voice.

He looked at me for a reply. Before I could, my dad let out a throaty chuckle, causing Brice to wrap an arm around me protectively, shielding me slightly from the man in front.

"I thought you would have chosen someone with a few more brain cells m' boy." he said, a crooked smile lingering on his lips.

"Hey!" Brice growled, pouting slightly. My dad chuckled again, shaking his head smiling. "Although I see why you would choose him Seto."

Brice turned to me looking for some explanation about who this man was. I sighed.

'Brice, this is Markus Tobias Sorcerer. My biological father, whom I haven't seen for ten years.' I waited for his reaction. He relaxed slightly, but still held me close.

"Markus Tobias.... but, I thought.... I thought he was dead! The gravestone..." Brice mumbled, brow knitted together.

I glanced back at my father. He came forward more, making my breath hitch. He sighed deeply, a long frown on his face.

"Well, actually.... I am dead..." he muttered, suddenly sounding ages old.

I stood there, totally confused and dumbfounded. If he was dead how was he here in front of us? Had he faked his death or something?

"It's complicated Seto," he began, seemingly reading my thoughts, "But every year on the anniversary of our death, we're able to roam. I've been searching for you for ten years, my boy.... and I've finally found you." he said, watery eyed, smiling softly.

I frowned. I had almost forgot that it was ten years today that they had died. Something tugged at the back of my mind. I widened my eyes. We?

-Brice's POV-

I was absolutely flabbergasted. I stared at Seto's father incredulously. Actually, now that I could see him clearly, I could see how much Seto looked like him.

He had the same silvery purple eyes, the same pointed features and high cheekbones.

The only difference was that his hair was black as night, somehow even darker than the shadows.

As I slowly came out of my daze, I felt Seto's father looking at me. I creased my brow after hearing his story.

"Wait, sir, did you say... We?" I asked, knowing what Seto was about to ask. Markus looked down sadly.

"Yes, I did. But Helena... Helena's on a higher plain now. Since she is a sorcerer, she passed on sooner..." he muttered, pain in his voice as a small tear ran down his cheek.

I glanced at Seto. He signed to his father with fumbled gestures.

'But why didn't you pass on? You're a sorcerer too... right?' he asked, pausing slightly at the last word.

I looked back at Markus, who sighed heavily, before giving a bitter smile.

"Not entirely son. I'm... a half-born. I grew up with one sorcerer parent, but my mother, your grandmother, was human."

He ran a hand through his dark locks. "I know this is all so much, but it's also the reason your powers matured early." he explained. Seto gapped, eyes wife and shaking slightly.

"S-sir - Markus - why... why did you leave those notes? And... and why did you want to meet me?" I asked quietly, wanting to change the subject as Seto absorbed all he had said.

He beamed at me warmly, then looked at Seto sheepishly. "I'm sorry about those notes. I had to make sure you'd come, so they had to sound like I meant business, and with a summoning... That night on the balcony, I'm sorry I scared you son, but, he I saw-"

He looked at me questioningly, not yet knowing my name. "Brice" I said with a curt nod. He nodded back.

"When I saw Brice, I had to know who he was. I wanted to know who was taking care of my boy."

I felt Seto shaking uncontrollably at my side. I ripped my gaze from the guilty looking Markus and turned Seto around to face me.

He was silently sobbing, eyes squeezed shut. I hugged him tight and he rested his head on my shoulder, tears making a wet spot on my shirt.

I held him as Markus looked on, sadness and guilt in his eyes.

"Markus... I'm glad I got to meet you. I want you to know that I love Seto with all my heart, and will take care of him until my last breath. I made a promise - and I always keep my promises." I said to him, solemnly and sincerely. He chuckled lightly.

"I know you will protect him. I could see it when you were with me at the graveyard." I looked at him slightly surprised, wondering how he knew we were there.

"I could sense you both at my grave Brice. And, I want to say something to you Seto." he said, voice cracking slightly.

Seto tensed in my arms. I rubbed his back soothingly. "Talk to your father Seto. I'll be here. You both need this." I whispered in his ear.

I pulled back and pushed Seto lightly towards his father. He glanced back at me and I gave him a reassuring smile, winking at him. He blushed slightly, then turned to his father nervously.

His father moved over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He leaned in for a half hug, and said something in Seto's ear.

When he had, he held his arms out in an embrace, and Seto hugged him tightly. Both were on the verge of tears once more, and I bit my lip, shuffling awkwardly.

When they released each other, Markus placed a kiss gently on Seto's temple, then turned and walked to me.

He put his hand out and I shook it, feeling the rough callouses on his old hands, and looked honestly into his eyes.

"Remember what I said Brice. Take good care of my son. You're all he has left. Don't break his heart. He loves you as much as I love him, so please, don't hurt him." he said firmly, looking at me as if daring to disobey, but with affection behind it. I nodded.

"I wouldn't dream of it sir. But I need to ask you something..."

-Seto's POV-

I watched Brice and my dad whisper to each other. I wondered what they were saying when they came up to me.

Brice held me in his arms and I leaned into his side. I was happy that my dad approved of our relationship; even though it had only been a month, I knew that Brice and I would never be apart.

My father smiled as us both fondly. He put his hand in his pocket and handed Brice a small object, but I couldn't see what it was.

Brice took it and shoved it quickly in his pocket and he and my father shared a knowing look, frustrating me with curiosity.

"Goodbye boys. I can feel that my time has come. I'm finally crossing over." my father said, a shocked smile on his face as he started glowing a pale blue.

I chocked back sobs. 'No! You can't leave dad! Please, you can't...' I frantically signed, Brice holding me tight by the waist as I clawed desperately, trying to get to my dad. My father gave me a small smile.

"It's ok Seto. I have to go,I'm sorry. But you have Brice. You're strong son, you will be fine. Remember, you're my little SuperSeto." he croaked.

I sobbed harder remembering the games I would play with him as a child, and the nickname I earned for it.

Brice rubbed my shoulder and kissed the top of my head. My father glanced at Brice.

"Brice, remember what I said. Take care of him. You too Seto. Take care of each other." my father said, the light around him getting brighter and brighter.

My father stepped forward and planted one final kiss on my forehead, as tears streamed down both our faces, and finally the blue light consumed him, soon fading away into nothing in a wisp of smoke.

So many emotions were swirling around my mind at this point as I broke down onto Brice, weeping and shaking.

Sadness, guilt, love loneliness. All I felt at this moment. Brice picked me up and took me over to the bench, sitting down and cradling me on his lap.

"It's ok baby, it's ok. He's finally at peace now, don't be sad, it's ok..." he soothed, rocking me gently.

I cried like this, with him whispering comforting things in my ear, for about half an hour until exhaustion took over me and I began to pass out.

As I did, I remembered the last thing my dad whispered to me...

Flashback-
My dad leaned in and hugged me, my head in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent.

He was real, he was actually here.

"I love you son. I am so so proud of you for not giving up, for being able to carry on even after all that happened to you. But most of all I'm proud that you've managed to find love. You look at Brice the same way your mother would look at me. Keep ahold of that my boy. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help you, even be a father to you, but I am proud to call you my son. Never forget that."

Tears welled up in both our eyes as we pulled back.

'I love you too father.' I signed, and he pulled me in for another hug, kissing the side of my head.

"Never forget, remember that Seto." he whispered, holding back tears as we parted one final time.
- Flashback over

I smiled as I saw darkness descend, and dreamt of happy times with my parents as I slept.

-Brice's POV-

When Seto cried himself to sleep on y lap, I finally let my own tears fall. I was so happy that Seto was ok, even more when he got to see his dad for the last time.

Even though Markus' visit was brief, Seto managed to get some closure, letting go of some of the guilt that had been festering in his heart for ten years.

I picked up my sleeping boyfriend and carried him home in my arms. As I walked up the stairs to the flat, I studied Seto as he slept.

Call it creepy, but I loved watching him sleep. He only showed his true, unbridled emotions through facial expressions as he slept.

When he first started living with me, that first night gave me an insight into all his insecurities and fears, all his pain and worries, all his innocence and how everything affected him.

He tries so hard in the day to hide his emotions, putting on a blank or difficult to read expression, trying to block it all out. Tonight, he looked at peace, a small smile twitching the corners of his mouth.

It seemed as if a weight had shifted in him, because he had such a light and happy face it was as if that was true about his whole body.

I fumbled with my keys and entered the flat, still somehow managing to carry Seto. I glanced at the clock once I turned on the light. 02:13am.

I kicked off my shoes and carried us both to Seto's bedroom. He stirred in his sleep and opened his eyes, those beautiful bright orbs shining up at me sleepily.

He blinked a few times then smiled, placing a hand on my chest a a sign to tell me to stop. I did and he hopped out of my arms.

I gave him a meaningful half-smile, and he blushed, as we both got ready for bed, stripping down to our boxers. I jumped into bed and he rolled his eyes as the bed sprung around, giggling as he climbed in next to me.

I lay on my back and he laid his head on my chest, tracing shapes on my stomach with his pinky finger. I turned to face him, one hand rubbing up,and down his arm.

We gazed at each other sleepily, sharing silent love between us. I leaned in slowly and captured his lips in mine.

Our lips mere parted as we kissed, no tongue involved, just passion and the sweet taste of each other. He pulled back after a while, eyes half closed, an adorably tired look on his face. I smiled at him, feeling myself fall asleep.

"I love you Seto." I murmured, closing my eyes and snuggling into the exhausted brunette. He shifted on my chest and I felt a small butterfly kiss on my neck.

And I swear, as I slipped into the blissful oblivion of sleep, I heard a faint 'I love you too' escape from his lips. But I must have already been dreaming.

Laika do good? I actually loved writing this chapter and I think it's really cute with his dad and all. Idk, what do you guys think? Luvs yas bubs! Laika out. :3