Chapter 11: Nauseating
As the months passed, Atem settled into his new life as a normal human, going to Domino High with his friends, wife, and sister. To not make it suspicious, he decided to use the story that he was only dating Hali. But a new event he noticed as Halloween approached was bound to derail it. Hali had adopted to wearing baggier shirts and shorts as she padded around the house. She looked up as Atem entered on Halloween morning. "Morning, honey." She greeted, giving him a kiss.
"Good Morning Hali, are you ok?" Atem asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, don't worry about me." Hali gave him a warm smile, despite the scent of his soap sending waves of nausea through her. She had begun speaking in the modern way to blend in with the other students.
"We should start getting ready for school so we're not late." Atem reminded her, giving her a kiss
"Go on downstairs, I will be down soon to pack our lunches." Hali gave him a little push toward the door.
"Ok, if you are sure." Atem said hesitantly as he left for the living room.
Hali waited until he had gone downstairs and rushed to the bathroom.
Yugi came downstairs, concerned about the noises from the bathroom. "What's wrong with Hali?"
"I don't know, she told me she told me she was ok" Atem shrugged.
"From the sounds coming from the bathroom, she's not."
"Shit! Why didn't you tell me, can you finish getting our breakfast please?" Atem panicked as he dashed upstairs.
"I just did, Atem!" Yugi called back, shaking his head.
"Hali dear, are you ok?" Atem asked as he knocked gently on the bathroom door.
"Fine." Hali called back, trying to hold back another wave of nausea.
"Is it ok if I come in? I'm worried about you and so was Yugi."
"I suppose..."
Opening the door, Atem gently wrapped his arms around her stomach and rested his chin on her back. "If you are feeling unwell I can get Grandpa to call the school for you." he whispered in her ear
Hali groaned as the scent of his soap made her sick.
"What's wrong?" He asked, letting go of her and stepping back.
"I think I'm pregnant," Hali admitted.
"What! B-but how did you...Oh no..." Atem gasped, going pale.
"The night we came back." Hali reminded him, her pale cheeks turning faintly pink.
Atem just nodded, remembering the exact night. "Are you ready to be a mother again at such a young age?" Atem asked taking her hands in his.
"I've done it before." Hali shrugged. "But can you do me a favor?"
"I know but things are different in this time. Of course, anything."
"Change your soap, it's making me sick."
"Oh," Atem blushed with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "iff thats all it is I can change what I use, no problem, I just got so used to using what Yugi used. Sorry Hali."
"Then tell him to stop using it too. I don't want to risk it. Although, because I will be closer to you it would affect me more than his."
"If you find one with a smell that is ok with you, I will try to use something with no smell until then and I will remind Yugi to switch to something else."
"Thank you." Hali gave him a smile.
"Will you be ok to go to school or do you want to rest for today?" Atem asked trying to resist the urge to hold her again.
"I better stay home, the idea of going is nauseating."
"Ok, you go back to bed and rest. I will go downstairs and talk to Yugi." Atem smiled, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before dashing out the door.
Hali put a hand to her bump as her stomach turned. "Calm down." she ordered her stomach.
"Yugi, we have a really big problem," Atem told him with slight panic in his voice.
"What's wrong?" Yugi asked, concerned.
"Hali isn't well & we need to help her by...oh so that's what she meant." Atem muttered, having a flashback to what Ishizu told him.
"What who meant?" Yugi asked, confused.
Shaking his head, Atem dismissed Yugi's question and continued on what he was saying, "As I was saying, we need to change the soap we use because the smell is making Hali feel sick and could you get Grandpa to ring the school and tell them she won't be in today?"
"Of course, but why would soap make her sick?" Yugi asked, confusion mounting.
"She's um..." Atem blushed adverting his gaze.
"Yes? She's what?"
"She's pregnant." Atem mumbled.
"Pardon?"
"Hali's pregnant," Atem said a little louder still blushing.
Yugi blinked in surprise. "Oh...ew...Did not need to know you two...well, how do you feel about it?"
"I'm a bit shocked actually and don't really know quite how I feel about it."
Yugi looked up as Loretta came in, looking pale. "Good morning, Loretta." he greeted with a smile.
"Hi" she replied sheepishly. "Um Atem..."
"What's wrong?"
"I wont be going to school today, Im not well" Loretta blushed
"What is it?"
"Y-You might be getting niece or nephew in a few months." Loretta blushed.
"Excuse me?" Atem gasped, eyes wide.
"I-I think I'm..." Loretta started as she coughed, holding her hand over her mouth running to the kitchen to be sick.
Atem's eyes narrowed as he took out his cellphone. "Who are you calling?" Yugi asked, alarmed.
"I've got a bone to pick with a certain Mr. Ishtar." Atem growled putting his phone up to his ear.
Yugi's eyebrows shot up into his spiky hair but didn't comment as Marik answered the phone. "Atem? What are you calling me this early for?"
"Guess what my sister told me, five minutes ago."
Marik sensed his tone of voice. "I'm afraid to ask."
"My sister...is pregnant." Atem growled.
"I didn't hurt her, I swear!"
"No, but you went behind my back and did...with her and now she is suffering for it."
"Pharaoh..." Yugi warned, seeing how angry he was getting.
"Keep out of this Yugi..." Atem growled turning the phone away from his ear.
"I'll come over, she'll need me."
"Good idea, it looks like she won't be going to school today anyway."
Yugi scowled at Atem as he hung up. "You're screwing it up again."
"What Is so wrong with me trying to protect my sister?"
"She's pregnant, not dying."
"I know that and I know you think I'm being overprotective but I don't want to see her getting hurt. Now that I have my memory back I remember being told how much agony my mother was in when we were born." Atem sigh, smacking his forehead with his palm.
"That is for her to decide to go through, not you. And what's wrong?"
"I've been a real jerk about this whole thing, haven't I? First on the boat, now here, I doubt my sister will ever want to talk to me especially if she heard my phone call."
"You have to remember the world is not going to end if you don't protect everyone, Atem." Yugi reminded him.
"You're right Yugi, I'm sorry. It's just so hard for me to see my sister starting a life of her own, maybe that is why I was so hard on her with Mahad." Atem sighed, hiding his eyes within his bangs.
"Talk to them, they'll understand." Yugi reasoned.
"I don't know, anytime I talk to my sister she thinks I'm just going to argue with her because that's all that happens when we do talk." Atem sighed.
"Maybe you shouldn't act like the overprotective big brother."
"It's not that easy Yugi, I can't help it, it's in my nature to be protective. Especially once I became Pharaoh."
"You're not a pharaoh anymore, might as well hang the crown up." Yugi chuckled at his own joke.
"I know I'm not a pharaoh anymore but how can I change what has been taught to me all through my life. The one thing my father told me every day was, 'Look after your sister' and that's what I'm doing, I just don't want her to hate me for it. I lost her once, I don't want to lose her again." Atem sighed, wiping a small tear from his eye.
"She can take care of herself if she can stand up to you." Yugi chuckled.
"I know and your right, I need to remember that we're not children anymore." Atem smiled, quickly turning his head when he heard a noise.
"Loretta, were you listening?"
Giggling sheepishly, Loretta came out from hiding place. "I'm really sorry, I heard you talking when I went to go back upstairs."
"Sorry if I said anything wrong." Atem apologized.
"That was actually the whole reason why you caught me. I heard what you said Atem, and even though I hate that you're being so overprotective of me, I think its sweet that you do care that much" Loretta smiled. "But don't be sorry, I overreacted too."
Atem went over and gave her a hug. "I guess I need to be a little more understanding that you are growing up." He murmured, kissing her forehead.
"Thank you Atem, that is all I ask. Please start acting more like my brother and less like our father. You know how protective he was of us when our mother died." Loretta sighed, hugging her Brother tighter.
"It's not easy. I have a protective nature. Just ask Yugi."
"I know, I heard" Loretta giggled, as she heard a knock on the door, making her raise an eyebrow. "Yugi? are you expecting visitors?"
"I am. I called Marik."
"Why? You didn't yell at him did you Atem?" Loretta growled, stepping back from him.
"Hey, it was before I had a breakthrough." Atem held up his hands in defence.
Scowling at her Brother and slowly shaking her head, Loretta sighed as she walked towards the door, "Marik. Hi."
"Hi." Marik pulled her into a quick hug, eyes on Atem.
"Marik? Is everything ok?"
Marik looked down at her, cupping her cheek. "Everything's fine, I'm just wary of your brother."
Chuckling Atem came closer to the pair, hugging in the doorway "Marik," Atem sighed. "Yet again I have to apologize to you."
"Okay, for what?" Marik asked warily.
"I've been too hard on you, I shouldn't have yelled at you on the phone. I can see how much you love Loretta and as I said as long as you look after her, I will be happy and try to stay off your case."
"Thank you and I appreciate it. Loretta? May I talk to your brother alone?" Marik looked down at her.
"Of course, but if I hear any yelling I will be straight back downstairs," Loretta glared at both of them, before giving Marik a kiss on the cheek as she walked away.
"You better be asking for my permission to marry my sister." Atem leaned against the table, arms folded.
"Atem..." Yugi growled, folding his arms and slightly glaring.
"What? He got her pregnant, I have the right to ask."
"Just be nice about it, you heard what Loretta said."
"I notice that Marik is being quiet about it." Atem looked over to him.
"I don't want to argue with you anymore Atem, that's why I'm keeping quiet." Marik chuckled nervously.
"I just want to make sure what your plans are with my sister now that she's pregnant."
"I love her Atem, and I want to be with her for the rest of my life. I do want to marry her but I don't want to rush her into it," Marik told him honestly.
"I just wanted to make sure you were planning on it. I would prefer that it's done before the baby's born."
"But we're not even engaged yet."
"It's not required, I just would like it to happen."
"It will I promise but only when she is ready." Marik smiled.
Atem was startled as Loretta hurried into the room and threw herself on Marik. "Were you listening to our conversation?"
"I'm kinda glad I was." Loretta smirked, hugging Marik's neck as tight as she could. "Do you really mean what you said, Marik?" Loretta asked, looking into his lilac eyes.
"Of course. I would love to be your husband."
"And my brother allows this?" Loretta looked at Atem with a raised eyebrow.
"Apparently you didn't hear all of what I said," Atem smirked.
"There's no need to be a smart ass, brother."
"My wife loves my smart mouth." Atem's smirk widened as Hali entered the kitchen. "Speak of the devil."
"Who me?" Hali gave a giggle, going over to give him a kiss.
"I think she loves more than that." Loretta muttered spotting Hali's bump.
Atem's cheeks became pink. "She's my wife, it's not surprising."
"I think we are in the same boat Hali" Loretta giggled.
"Oh, did Atem let you out of his sight long enough to let you get pregnant?" Hali asked, arching an eyebrow.
"He wouldn't be able to stop me even if he was two miles away." Loretta continued to giggle holding her stomach while wrapping her arm around Marik.
"Did Marik stand up and ask you to marry him, unlike my spineless husband? He found out and he didn't even propose." Hali gave Atem a look.
"He's told my brother that he wants to marry me, but I think my Brother may be still stuck in the past." Loretta also gave Atem a look.
Atem folded his arms. "What if I don't want to ask in front of my pregnant sister and future brother-in-law?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Settle, nobody said you had to, just as long as you do. Practice what you preach, Pharaoh." Yugi added.
"I'm being ganged up on..." Atem muttered.
Smacking her husband on the back of his head, Hali glared at him. "Don't push it, you're already in enough trouble as it is, so I've heard."
Atem grumbled under his breath, rubbing his head. "I'm going to go be where angry women are not." He left the room.
"Atem...Come back, we're going to be really late for school now." Yugi growled following him. "Oops, maybe you went a bit too far there, Hali." Loretta giggled.
"He's going to have to get used to it." Hali scowled.
"You're right, I better get ready."
"Men, can't live with them can't live without them." Loretta shrugged, gently rubbing her stomach.
"But can kneecap them if they screw up." Hali giggled.
"Not that I would, they need their bits if we want any more kids."
"I want to wait until I have this one to decide."
"Yes, good point. I would hate to have two sets of twins for example."
"Based on my size, I think I might be having twins," Hali admitted. They heard something break in the living room. "What was that?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if my Brother is eavesdropping on our conversation. That or he has just killed Yugi." Loretta winced.
"Let's go check." Hali hurried into the living room and found Atem sitting on the couch. "Are you all right?"
Sitting in complete silence, Atem's grip on the couch tighten as he slowly swiveled his head around to look at Hali "Did I just hear you correctly?"
"Yes, I am not sure, but I feel more than one movement."
At that moment, Atem's eyes rolled back in his head as he slipped off the couch onto the floor.
"Atem?!" Hali cried, kneeling beside him. She shook him gently.
Slowly coming to Atem's eyes fluttered open "Hali..."
"Atem, are you okay?"
"I think so, I was just in shock but I'm fine now."
"Twins run in my family." Hali shrugged. "It's not that surprising. The Biology teacher said it was genetic, right?"
"Well don't forget Loretta and I are twins, so maybe it is possible." Atem gulped as he looked over at Loretta "But yes that's right."
"I doubt she's having twins, she's much smaller than me and we got pregnant about the same time."
"And how do you know that you are having twins, is there something you're not telling me, Hali?" Atem asked raising an eyebrow.
Hali shrugged. "Like I said before you passed out, I feel like there is two."
"Well, as long as you are okay and we have a nice healthy baby or babies then I will be happy."
"That's evident by the fainting spell." Hali frowned.
"I was in shock, but it doesn't mean I'm not happy." Atem chuckled, getting up and touching Hali's cheek.
Hali touched her bump suddenly, smiling.
"Everything ok?"
"Everything's fine." Atem took his hand, placing it on her bump. "Feel that?"
"W-wow, I-I've never felt anything like that before" Atem beamed
"That's the babies."
"I don't think you even let me feel your stomach back in the past, then again I was very busy."
"True, hopefully, you'll be a hands-on dad this time." Hali smiled.
"Of course, I will always be there for you Hali. I'm obviously not Pharaoh anymore, as Yugi so nicely pointed out to me, so I will have more time for you and our children." Atem smiled back at her.
"The best news I've heard all day."