A/N: I remember why I love writing now. I love hearing your feedback, and I'm just gleeful to see the 3 reviews I've gotten. Thank you, guys. :D

Joey wasn't sure why he was running. He felt awkward in the older Kaiba's presence. Something about the way they were standing there, and the way he looked at him…it felt different.

Joey pushed the brunet teen from out of his mind as he came up to Yami and Yugi's apartment. Joey smiled as he thought about little Lucy, spending her days with Yami. He knocked lightly on the door, and Yami came to the door, covered in flour and cocoa powder.

Yami's crimson eyes and eyebrows twitched a little bit, and Joey perked an eyebrow in surprise. "Yami?" he asked slowly. "Is everything okay?" The shorter teen didn't answer, he only stuttered incoherently for a moment. Joey realized Yami was likely in a state of shock; being with Lucy all day could do that to a person. He knew he would need to ask Yami questions slowly and tried not to upset him. "Is Yugi here?" Tami shook his head and was finally able to form words. "Yugi hasn't come home yet…and while I love Lucy, can you PLEASE take her home? She's becoming antsy."

Joey tried not to laugh, but he knew what Yami meant. "If you let me inside, I'll take care of it, Yami." Yami seemed relieved at this, and opened the door to let Joey inside. Joey surveyed the apartment. The flour and cocoa powder wasn't just on Yami; there were traces of the two substances on the walls, and little hand and footprint trails. She left behind incriminating evidence.

Joey sighed and pulled out his wallet, leaving behind the $50 bill he just received from Mokuba on Yami's table. "Lucy! Come on, we have to go home and leave Yami to recover," he called. As he waited, he rubbed Yami's back a little. When Lucy didn't come, Yami led Joey to the middle of the floor, where she laid, fast asleep. Joey picked her up. "Yami, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

For the first time since Joey had gotten there, Yami cracked a smile. "No, it's fine. We just won't try and make cakes any more. Bring her by tomorrow. And take that money! Yugi and I are well off. We don't need—" Joey silenced him. "It's the least I can do, Yami. Thank you for keeping an eye on her." Yami petted her honey blonde curls. "She's a good kid. And it's good practice if Yugi ever decides to…well…you know." Joey smiled. "Well, okay. I'll leave you to try and get back together. Thank you again, Yami."

Yami just kept smiling at Lucy. "It's no problem, Joey. See you tomorrow." And with that, Joey left, carrying the sleeping girl in one arm and his box in the other. Luckily, his own apartment was only a few blocks away from Yami and Yugi's. The odd pair reached Joey's apartment rather quickly, where Joey set down his things and laid Lucy down, kissing her forehead as she continued to sleep.

He left her to sleep in her bed, and Joey sat and took a breather. Today had been a long day for him. It was about 5 pm about now, so he had a few hours. He worked on some homework, and cleaned up a few things. As the clock ticked onward, it was about 7 when Lucy wandered up to where Joey was sitting, rubbing her eyes.

"Hey, sleepyhead," he said sweetly, lifting her onto his lap. "How was your day with Yami?"

Her eyes lit up. "We made cake. And then we danced! It was so fun, Daddy!" Joey smiled. Her violet eyes were glowing with excitement. He chuckled. "Well, how about some dinner? Are you hungry?" She nodded. "Well, how about…some mac and cheese?" She squealed, and Joey laughed, tickling his daughter. "Sounds like a plan. While it's cooking, we'll get you all cleaned up, and then we can draw some pictures."

She gave him a big smile. "Okay." Joey quickly got started on cooking the macaroni and he whisked away little Lucy to run some bath water for her. He chased her back into the kitchen, and kept dinner going while she danced a little in the kitchen, shaking off some of the flour on her. Joey grabbed the little girl by the waist and carried her into the bathroom as she giggled gleefully and dinner began to cool down a bit.

He gave her a quick little bath and they both laughed. Toward the end, she promptly took the washcloth with which Joey had been cleaning her and she demanded to wash herself. "Daddy, I can take care of me! I can clean me!" Joey kept chuckling, watching the little girl try and wash herself.

For a nearly three year old girl, she was fiercely independent. Or, at least she tried to be. Joey kept an eye on her, but part of his mind began to wander. He thought about how much the little girl looked like Mai, and how proud of her little girl she would have been. Joey remembered how strong she had been throughout her pregnancy, and how nothing was going to stop her from bearing little Lucy. He sometimes wished, although in vain, that the girls at school would look past Lucy's cherub cheeks and see him, too. He could always use some help with his fireball of a child.

He came back to reality as a splash of water hit his face. He smirked and gave the eye to the little girl, who was feigning innocence with her hair. Joey, however, recognized that familiar wicked gleam in her dark purple eyes. He picked up the giggling little two-year-old, and dried her off.

The rest of the night went smoothly. Joey watched his little girl daintily pick at her food, and later they drew. Her squiggles were placed on the refrigerator, next to her daddy's. Joey tucked her in later, and as she yawned adorably and snuggled under her purple blanket. Joey stroked her hair as she faintly whispered, "I love you, Daddy." Joey felt the day tumble away. "I love you too, Lucy."

He took a moment to watch her sleep, and then he went to work sketching. His new work was commissioned to a big art dealer across town, a large portrait of a woman's puppy. This one would sell for close to $550; there was enough money to pay rent, and buy a new dress for Lucy. As Joey stood in the kitchen, painting his next piece to be sold, he couldn't help but feel like Lucy had some sort of telepathic powers. In the middle of her squiggles, there was a faint outline of a tiny blue butterfly.