XXRoseGoddessXx: I'm glad you still like the story. I always try to write my stories to the best of my abilities. Thanks for the review!

Journey maker: We'll just have to see if they really do fall in love with each other or not. And I'm happy they're going to have the baby too. Abortion is such a sad thing, I'm not really fond of it.

Ladyguadalupe: I try to write all my stories with an unbiased sense, cause no one likes to be told what they believe in is wrong, and no belief is wrong as a whole. I'm glad you can read my story and like it, even though you may not see eye to eye with decisions being made. Thanks for the review!

AmePiper: I'm glad you review to each chapter, even when I update too soon. Cause then I know exactly how you feel on each chapter and what not. I'm glad you still like the story. I feel as though I'm making this more funny than serious. I'm not sure where my story is going, I just write and it goes off into it's own little world. Hopefully this factor helps me more than hurts me. Let me know how you're feeling about this chapter, you know I love hearing all that you have to say!

Chapter 4

"The family is the corner stone of our society. More than any other force it shapes the attitude, the hopes, the ambitions, and the values of the child. And when the family collapses it is the children that are usually damaged."-Lyndon B. Johnson

Seto was sitting at his desk staring at a blank computer when Mokuba walked into his office. "Nii-sama?" Seto didn't answer, he merely loudly sighed. Mokuba rolled his eyes. "Nii-sama, what's wrong?"

"You know exactly what's wrong…" Seto mumbled, not looking in Mokuba's direction. Mokuba hopped onto the chair next to Seto's.

"I don't see what the problem is. You're going on a date with Serenity, so what? You should be happy. This is your first date… ever. I mean, aside from that one that you were forced to go on cause you lost a bet with me." Seto glared at him. "But anyways, you're 18 and you're going on your very first date. You should be happy with yourself."

"I'm not happy with myself at all. Mokuba, you know me. Of all people, you should know me the best. You know how it works between people and I. I don't like people. People don't like me. That won't ever change."

"That doesn't mean it can't change."

"I don't want it to change. I rather like my lonesome life."

"You're being a drama queen." Seto sighed once more.

"And you're not being any help." Seto grabbed the remote and started flipping through random channels.

"Nii-sama… what's been up with you? Ever since you found out about this whole baby thing, you've become more and more insecure."

"Maybe because I am insecure, maybe because no one's ever expected a lot from me. I've always been in charged of my own life. I run my own house, my own company, and my own job. I've never had to be a date, or a boyfriend, or a father. I've never really had to deal with other people, or even care about other people." Seto flicked off the TV. "I don't want that to change." The doorbell rang. Seto looked at Mokuba. "What am I going to do?" Mokuba walked over to Seto and placed his hand on Seto's chest.

"Nii-sama, I'm gonna make this short since we don't have much time," Mokuba said, "But you're my big brother, and you're the bravest guy I know. You've been through some scary things and have had to deal with change a lot throughout you're life. You've taken on much more scarier challenges than this and come out on top, so don't think for a second you can't conquer this one. There's nothing that says you can't be a good date and a good father too." Seto smiled and nodded.

"Thanks Mokuba."

"Don't mention it." Seto walked with his head up high and his back straight as he walked down the stairs. Once again, his brother's wisdom and words always brought his spirits up even when they seemed at his lowest. Nothing could bring him down today. He gripped that knob and twisted it open, only to reveal that Serenity wasn't alone. Seto's eyes widened.

"Hello there, Moneybags." Seto switched back to his battle mode. He glared at the intruder.

"Mutt." Joey was not the one glaring.

"Adopt-A-Dog is being held at the pet store. Would you like the address?"

"Yeah, you would know about adoption wouldn't you?" Seto clutched his hand into a fist and stepped forward. Mokuba grabbed Seto's arm and tried to pull him back.

"Easy Nii-sama." Serenity looked from Joey to Seto, then proceeded to jab Joey in the gut with her elbow.

"Ow!"

"I told you to be nice!" Serenity commanded. Joey growled. "I'm terribly sorry about my brother…"

"What exactly is HE doing here anyway?"

"Joey said he… had to come. Just to set some rules for you… for our date. It'll just take a minute," Serenity turned to Joey, "Right Joey?" Joey nudged Seto the side as he made his way into the mansion.

"All I need is enough time to say what I have to say." Serenity rolled her eyes as she followed him in and shut the door behind herself. Joey twisted around and flipped out a sheet of paper with some writing on it. Seto chuckled. "You got something to say Kaiba?"

"Oh, nothing at all. You just look so cute trying to look like you have something of use to say." Joey tried to ignore the comment to the best of his ability.

"I've written out a list of things you can't do while you're on your "date", if you could call it that, with MY sister," Joey stated holding out the sheet of paper, "1) You can't kiss her 2) You can't hug her 3) You can't hold her hand 4) You must stay a reasonable distance away from her 5) You can't invite her to your home-"

"Are you done yet?"

"Not quite." Joey reached into his pocket and pulled out yet another sheet of paper. He unfolded it and held it out this time so that Seto could see it, "I've made a diagram of places where you can't touch Serenity." There check marks all over the poorly drawn Serenity body he had drawn. Seto laughed.

"You really are pathetic, you know that?" Joey opened his mouth to reply back but this time Serenity stepped in.

"I think Joey will be leaving now, thank you big brother for all your help!" Serenity started pushing Joey out the door.

"Hey wait! I'm not done yet!"

"We heard everything you had to say and Seto will be sure to follow all the rules set out for him…"

"You have to be home by 11 or I'm calling the cops on-" Serenity slammed the door shut. She gave him a tired smile and walked over to him, taking Seto's arm into hers.

"Shall we go?" Seto gulped silently.

"Yep. You can go out to the car now while I go and grab the keys."

"Okay!" Serenity happily made her way outside. Seto turned to Mokuba.

"Help me?"

"Nii-sama, what are you so worried about? You'll be fine." Seto shook his head.

"You have no idea what you're talking about. Mokuba, I've ALWAYS been there for you. Isn't it about time you should be there for me?"

"I think you're being a little dramatic there, Nii-sama."

"Mokuba!" Mokuba shoved Seto out the door and threw him his car keys.

"Have fun you two!" Serenity happily waved goodbye as Seto sulked his way to the car. Mokuba shut the door behind him. "He'll be just fine…" he said to himself, almost sounding fatherly. "I hope."


There was complete silence in the car between Seto and Serenity as Seto managed to not throw up and drive at the same time. Seto's heart was racing and he wasn't quite sure what he had to do. He supposed he could try talking to her, but every time he did he felt that feeling of something in his stomach coming up through his throat. Seto thought it best for the both of them if he didn't say a word, but he was worried that things were awkward since there was no talking.

On the other hand, Serenity didn't notice any of this. She sat happily in the car, just excited to be in the car alone with him. She waited for him to speak, but when he didn't, she felt it was because he liked her so much he didn't know what to say. Her heart was pounding faster and faster as her crush began to grow.

"So where are we going for dinner?" She asked innocently.

"I don't know, where would you like to go?" Seto finally managed to spit out somehow without throwing up.

"Let's go somewhere romantic…"

"Oh okay, let's go home then."

"No, no, I meant a romantic restaurant of some sort."

"Oh…" Seto said with a saddened tone. He wished more than anything in the world that the date was just over. Serenity, thankfully, didn't pick up on any of these feelings that Seto was going through.

"How bout that restaurant? It looks romantic. I've always wanted to go there, but just never did for some reason."

"Oh, okay." Seto turned into the parking lot and parked. Seto and Serenity got out and headed towards the restaurant. Seto tried to think of manners and what a man was suppose to do on dates and remembered opening a door. He quickly ran in front of Serenity and held the door for her. This made Serenity's heart practically leap out of her chest.

"Why, thank you!" Serenity walked in and Seto finally let out the air he had been holding. He took another deep breath and walked in behind her. He had no idea dates were so tiring.

"Right this way, please" the waiter said, already leading Seto and Serenity to their table. They sat down together. Seto quickly opened the menu and hid behind it.

"So Kaiba… tell me about yourself." Seto dropped the menu.

"Uh… what?"

"Tell me about yourself, Kaiba. Or can I call you Seto? I've never heard anyone call you Seto, I wonder why that is…" Seto reached down to grab the menu and quickly placed it back onto the table. "So why do people call you Kaiba?" Seto shrugged.

"It beats me." Seto was already growing tire of her boring questions. But this also put him at ease, feeling as though the date would be less stressful if it was boring.

"What was your surname?" Seto was wrong about less stress.

"My… surname?" Seto was almost positive she knew what he meant, but he was so nervous he had practically forgotten everything he knew in that moment.

"Yeah, the name you had before you were adopted. The name Kaiba comes from your adoptive father, correct?"

"Uh… yes, that is true. My name was-"

"Hi, I'm Martin. I'm going to be your waiter this evening," their waiter had reappeared out of nowhere and somehow gotten glasses of water already on the table. "Are you guys ready to order?"

"Yes, I'll have a…" and as Serenity continued to talk Seto tried to think of some way to make the date end sooner. He began designing a machine in his head that would allow time to go by as quickly as he pleased by the push of a button.

"And for you, Sir?" Seto snapped out of his planning.

"Oh, I'm fine."

"You're not going to order anything?"

"Nah, I… Mokuba said he was going to make me dinner. He loved trying to impress me." The waiter left and it was now Seto and Serenity alone again.

"So you and Mokuba… you guys are pretty close, aren't you?" Serenity started off. Seto felt this was a stupid comment, but figured she didn't really know him to begin with.

"Well, yes. He's my younger brother and really the only family I have. I mean, everyone else is dead… but didn't you already know that?"

"Well, yes… but at the same time know. Sure, I suppose I know the facts. Like how you're the CEO of Kaiba Corp., that you were adopted, that you have a younger brother. But I don't really know the details or the back round of that." Seto leaned back in his chair.

"Oh sure you do… it's all there on the Internet if you look for it online. I'm pretty sure most of my life story is on there for all kinds of readers to see."

"That maybe so, Seto Kaiba, but the Internet doesn't tell me the story, in depth and with all the emotions that came with it." Emotions, Seto didn't like dealing with those. He hoped that Serenity wasn't going to go in that direction with this conversation. "It must've been hard taking on all that responsibility as a kid…"

"How about I ask you questions?" Seto interrupted, "Since it's apparent that you know so much about me yet I have no knowledge of your life. All I'm aware of is that you're the Mut-I mean, Joey's sister." Seto exhaled. That was a close one.

"Well, I suppose talking about me would be good too since you know so little," Serenity said, "My parents divorced when I was very young and my brother and I were separated when our parents were separated. I went with my Mom and he went with my Dad. Those were some of the hardest years of my life, living without my brother and all. When our parents got a divorce, I felt as though the only one who hadn't failed me was my brother. My mother was always so demanding and bitter and my father was always drunk and angry. Joey, it seemed, was the only one who really cared for me." Serenity sighed.

"I know you don't really like my brother, but you must know that there's a kind and caring guy behind his somewhat rough exterior," Serenity smiled, "If you just give him a chance you guys will become really close. Which is what we'll need once the baby is here." Seto didn't want to be reminded. For a moment he had forgotten why he was on a date with Serenity and now his anxiety was back to haunt him.

"I guess so…" Seto said without confidence. More silence was between them, even when the waiter returned with Serenity's food. Serenity didn't notice this at all but it was killing Seto inside. How could he ever expect this to work with Joey lurking in the mix of all this?

"So tell me about your brother… what's he like?" Serenity asked.

"Oh, well… he's… young. I mean, he's just a little kid in my eyes. Even though sometimes he can be so wise and sound like an old man with who's traveled the world." Serenity chuckled at the idea of Mokuba being an old man. "It's true, that kid never ceases to amaze me with the advice he gives."

"You ask him for advice? When?"

"Actually, quite a lot. You'd be surprised how little I know when it comes to social issues," Seto stated, "That's how it's always been. All our lives, I was always the one who knew business, and calculations, and facts, and how to make the most money in the most odd of situations. And he would know how to deal with people he would know how they were feeling, and how to act in all kinds of social situations. I know people have always called me the child prodigy, but I feel as though Mokuba could be one too." Seto stopped. He hadn't realized how much he was giving away, how his personal feelings and thoughts had somehow mixed in with their conversations.

His first reaction was to run, but he knew he couldn't. Then he tried to look at his thoughts logically. Was he really considering running away because he had let his emotions slip out of himself? Maybe he needed to be more open. Maybe this was what it was like to be human. Seto tried to calm himself down and see this as a good thing as he and Serenity continued their date together, conversing both their thoughts and feelings.


A/N:I know, this is kind of a random place to stop but I just felt as though this was the right time. So I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. I didn't think I was going to get a chapter in this weekend since I had so much going on, but I did and I'm happy about that. I hope you all are too. Have a nice day!

P.S: Sorry again about the chapter mess up at the top. I don't know why it keeps messing up like that but hopefully the next chapter won't come out that way.