Disclaimer: Journey Maker doesn't own Yugioh or the prayer in this chapter

Chapter Ten

Marik had asked Ishizu if Serenity could stay with them when he and Joey went to talk to Hank and she told her brother "You know that she can and please tell Joseph that we're praying for him and his father that they might be able to work things out."

So today Marik drove over to the Manor and as Joey knocked on the door, Roland answered it and he smiled as he saw them and he ushered them in. Seto and Ishizu were there and when Serenity saw her she ran to Ishizu and she said "Thank you both for letting me stay here, Joey and Marik are going to talk to our dad and I hope that he gets better and comes home to be with us."

Seto walked over to Joey and he said "When you get to the Airport I've arranged for you to use the Company jet and I hope that you and your father can work things out." Joey thanked him and then Serenity ran to them and she hugged both Marik and her brother and then they left to go to the Airport.

When they got there they found Solomon waiting for them and he said "I'm coming to just in case you need some help." Marik smiled at him and he said "Thanks." They boarded the jet and soon they were on their way to Tokyo and to see Hank.

When they arrived at the Center, Joey was really nervous about seeing his dad and when Solomon talked to the doctor who is in charge of Hank's treatments he introduced him to Joey and Marik.

Dr. Taylor said "Your father has been doing really great and he is really looking forward to this visit. One thing that I have to tell all of you is that Hank isn't 100 well and he might fly off the handle at anything that is said so please just give him time to understand whatever you're here to talk to him about."

The doctor took them to the visitation area where Hank was and as he unlocked the door Solomon said "This will probably be an intense meeting and I don't want anyone to disturb us unless Hank gets to out of control."

Dr. Taylor agreed with this and as he opened the door and they walked into the room he relocked the door and told the orderly in charge "Don't disturb them for any reason unless they as for me, is that understood?"

The man nodded his head that he understood and then the doctor walked off and went back to his Office.

Hank stood up when they walked into the room and he said "It's good to see you again Joseph, how have you been?"

Joey felt the resistance that his father was having in letting his feelings come to the surface and he decided not to press him and so he told him "I'm doing alright, but I have something to tell you and I don't know how you're going to take it. Mom is dead and sis is living with me and Marik."

Hank stood there for a second and didn't say a word and then he exploded and he started ranting "Who gives a damn if that bitch is dead and why would you want that little brat to be living with you?"

Joey was taken back by his fathers out burst but it was Marik who stood up and he approached Hank and he said "If you ever call Mary a bitch or Serenity a brat ever again I'll send you to hell so fast you won't know what hit you!"

Hank then looked at Marik and he said "Who the hell are you and what are you doing here with him for, or I see he's gay and your his lover is that right?"

Marik grabbed Hank by the front of his shirt and he picked him up and as Hank's feet were dangling off the ground Marik said "Listen to me you old son-of-a-bitch I can be your friend or your worse nightmare that's up to you but if you ever say one more word about my life mate or his family ever again you'll be facing things that you never ever dreamed of seeing and I'll be there laughing as you scream and cry for someone to come bring you back. So if I were you I'd shut your damn mouth and let Joey say what he came here to tell you, is that perfectly clear?"

Hank looked into Marik's eyes and when they turned blood red Hank nearly pissed his pants and he swallowed and he softly said "I understand and I'm sorry for what I said to either of you."

Hank sat down and as he heart was quieting down some Joey went over to where he was sitting and he said "Here are somethings that were mom's and I want you to have them and then here's a letter that she wrote to you. Both Serenity and I got one too and I hope that after you read the letter and look at these things you might change your mind about the woman that you married."

Hank took the folder that Joey gave him and as he opened it tears filled his eyes and he saw the drawings that Mary had done of her and him and of both their children and it brought back memories and some of them weren't very nice while some made him smile, then he picked up the letter and as he opened the envelope and started to read it tears were falling from his face and he couldn't read it so he asked Solomon "Please read this to me."

Dear Hank:

If your reading this then I'm probably already dead but I needed you to understand what happened when Derrick came to Domino and because we were having marital problems he preyed on my feelings and well I let him talk me into leaving you and taking Serenity and going with him to New York.

What I didn't know until recently is that he was a con artist and he had the ability to learn to copy my handwriting and that he signed my name to papers that allowed him to transfer all the funds from our checking and saving accounts to his personal account and that's how he got the money.

I learned what he did after I found out that I had terminal pancreatic cancer and the doctors couldn't do a thing to operate or that even radiation and chemo-therapy wouldn't help.

So that's when he told me the truth and he was laughing as he told me and a very sweet Nurse is writing this letter for me because I'm to weak to do it. I want you to raise come here and get Serenity and raise her along with Joseph.

I'm so sorry for what I did and I know that you probably hate me and there isn't a thing that I can do to get you to forgive me but don't hate our daughter, she knew nothing of what that no good bastard did.

I can never make this up to you or to our son but I pray that you'll raise our daughter to love me and not to forget me.

Love,

Mary

When Solomon was done reading the letter, Marik was holding Joey in his arms while Hank was sitting there crying because he was so wrong about everything and how all these wasted years he blamed her for something that she never really did. He then turned to his son and he said "Joey can you ever forgive me, I'm so very sorry for all the years of abuse that I caused you and I want to get better and come home and see my daughter and for us to be a family again."

Solomon smiled at his old friend and then Marik and Joey walked over to Hank who was standing and he opened his arms and they both went over and he held them in his arms and tears of joy and sorrow ran down their faces and then Hank said "Solomon you really are the best friend any one could ever ask for and when Hank motioned to him Solomon walked over and all four of them were hugging and bawling.

Then Hank closed his eyes and he looked up towards heaven and he said "Mary my dear wife, I've been so full of hatred and I blamed you for all the hell that I went through and I brought our son down too and now I want to tell you that I love you and I always will. Please forgive me for all the hateful things that I've said and thought about you and honey if God lets me when I die I want to come home and then I can hold you in my arms and we'll be a happy as we were the day I married you."

Then Solomon closed his eyes and he started reciting a prayer that was one of Mary's favorites. As he started all of them joined in and this is the prayer the were saying:

The 23rd Psalms

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green Pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake,

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

When they were all through, Hank then said "I want to get better and come home to my family and he looked at Marik and he said you are part of this family too and I'm glad that you were there for both my children and helped to keep them safe."

Marik shook Hank's hand and then the door opened and Dr. Taylor came in and he said "You'll have to come back and visit with Hank again, he needs to get to his group class and then he waited outside for them to all say their good-byes. Joey hugged and kissed his dad and Hank said "Son I'm so proud of you and for you being there for both your mom and sister and for me." Then he shook hands with both Solomon and Marik and they left and got into the car and droved back to the airport for their return trip back home.

Joey smiled as he remembered how his father was willing to change when he learned the truth and he couldn't wait to get home and tell Rene that their father was going to be better and come home to them soon.

Please R&R..

Chapter Eleven Coming Up.. Marik asks Joey to marry him and Hank comes home...