Chapter 11: New Life
July 2003
Tea feared she was pregnant in July. So she took a pregnancy test. It was positive. "Oh no…" she moaned.
"What's wrong?" Tea's mother asked, appearing in the bathroom doorway. She spotted the test. "Is that what I think it is?"
Tea nodded. "I'm pregnant, Mom."
"Is it by that Yami boy?" her mom asked. Tea nodded again. "Invite him over after breakfast."
"I'm so nervous. What if he doesn't want me anymore?" she asked fearfully.
"Does that sound like something he'd do?" her mother asked.
"No, not at all. But will the baby change that?" Tea asked as her father appeared behind her mom. "Dad, I-"
"You're pregnant?" her father asked angrily.
"We used protection, but it must not have worked." Tea began crying.
"Greg, stop. She's scared." Her mother scolded. "Let's have breakfast. We'll have Yami and his grandfather come over."
The three headed downstairs. After breakfast, Tea called Yami. Ten minutes later, Yami and Grandpa came over. "What is it, honey?" Yami asked, kissing her.
"I have some big news. I'm pregnant." Tea told him.
"What?" Yami asked, shocked. "But we used protection." He protested.
"Condoms aren't 100% effective." Her mom pointed out.
"Let me talk to my grandpa real quick." Yami led his grandpa outside. "Grandpa, I need a ring."
"I didn't give your grandmother a ring at first. She got a regular cheap ring first. This one's real" Grandpa reached into his shirt and showed him a necklace with a ring on it.
"What about Yugi?" Yami asked, taking the necklace.
"He'll get your grandmother's wedding ring. Not as pretty. Still beautiful, though." Grandpa started to head back inside, but Yami stopped him.
"One more thing. Can Tea move in? I want to be there during the whole pregnancy." Yami asked.
"If they're willing, yes." Grandpa nodded.
Yami went back inside with Grandpa following. Giving a nervous glance at Tea's father, he knelt in front of her. "Will you marry me?" he asked.
Tea burst into tears. "Of course!" she cried. He got up and hugged her. He put the necklace around her neck.
"I don't like what you did to my little girl, but I'm glad you made it right." Greg slapped Yami on the shoulder.
"I have another question. Will you move in with me? I want to be there for every moment of this pregnancy."
Tea looked at her parents, who nodded. "Yes, I will!" she hugged him again, kissing him this time. "I better go pack."
"I'll help." Yami followed Tea upstairs to her room. As she packed, he asked, "If you weren't pregnant, would you have moved in this fast?"
Tea paused in packing to look at him. "Honestly, no. Not yet. But we love each other and I want you in our baby's life. I'm scared to death of becoming a mom this early."
"I'm scared of being a father. Will I be like my dad?" Yami asked, a worry line between his eyebrows forming.
Tea went over and touched his face. "You will never be like your dad. You will be the best dad this baby could ever have."
Yami smiled faintly. "You're right. Let's get back to packing so we can move you. Just to warn you, I'm a blanket hog."
Tea laughed. "Good luck getting it from me." Then she turned serious. "You didn't feel pressure to propose, did you?"
"Maybe a little. But I wanted to. It was going to happen anyway. I want to be married before the baby's born." Yami smiled. He kissed her. "Let's go back to packing."
Tea went back to packing. Once she was done, Yami carried her stuff out to his SUV. As he drove, he looked over at Grandpa. "That reminds me. Where is she going to sleep?"
"We can have Joey move in with Yugi and you share the spare room." Grandpa said as Yami pulled up in front of the Game Shop. He went inside and Joey came out a few minutes later.
"Let me guess, I'm moving in with Yugi." Joey said with a sigh.
"We can move our bed in yours." Yami suggested playfully.
Joey made a face. "Never mind. Do I at least keep my full sized bed?" he asked.
"Ours is full sized, too, so yes. Help me get her stuff in." Yami grabbed a box
"What can I do?" Tea asked, getting out of the car.
"Put up your feet and call the girls. Unless you're not ready to tell them." Yami carried the box inside.
"No, I'm ready." Tea grabbed her phone, but Joey stopped her.
"They're inside. What's the news?" Joey asked.
"I'll tell you guys when I'm all settled." Tea went inside.
"Hey, what's going on? You're moving in?" Luna asked
"I'll explain in a bit." Tea sat on the couch beside the girls and watched Joey and Yami bring Tea's stuff into the house.
Joey and Yami made the switch and came back downstairs. "You sure you're ready to tell them everything?" Yami asked as she stood up. Yugi came down as well.
"Yes. Guys, the reason I'm moving in is I'm pregnant. And we're engaged!" Tea squealed, showing them the ring.
"Congratulations!" the girls cried, getting up. They hugged her.
"Way to go, Yami. Get the girl and a family." Joey patted Yami on the shoulder.
Yugi had stayed quiet after the announcement. "I'm going to be an uncle?" he asked, eyes wide.
"And godfather if my fiancé agrees to it." Yami looked at Tea, who nodded. "You're getting the sister you always wanted, too."
"That is so cool!" Yugi exclaimed, hugging his brother. "What's the name going to be?"
"Woah, Yugi. I'm not even showing yet." Tea laughed.
"Showing what?" Yugi looked horrified at the thought.
"That's what they call it when our stomach gets bigger." Tea told him as Hailey's phone rang.
"Hello?" Hailey answered the phone. "David, slow down. What's going on? Do you want us to meet you guys there? See you then."
"What's going on?" Luna asked as Hailey got up.
"Ali's having the baby." Hailey kissed Yugi. "I'll call you when it's over, okay?"
"Wish her lock for us." Joey told Luna as she headed for the door with Hailey.
"Thanks." Luna smiled.
The girls drove to the hospital. David was waiting in the maternity ward for them. "Glad you could come."
"How is she doing?" Luna asked, worried.
"Six cm. She's asleep right now." David was worried too.
"She'll be all right, David." Hailey assured him, touching his arm.
"I know. I can't believe I'm going to be a father. I'll be a father at thirty-six. I'll be in my fifties when she graduates" David looked horrified at the thought.
"You'll be the best father. Just like you were like a father with us." Luna touched his arm, too.
"I know. I'm just worried." David glanced at the door of the room.
"Go be with her, we'll be fine." Luna promised.
"Thanks." David went back inside.
Luna and Hailey left only to eat lunch. It was almost dinnertime when David came out. "It's a girl. Miranda Alice Reynolds."
"Congratulations, David. Can we see them?" Luna asked as they hugged David.
"Yeah, Ali's anxious to see you two." David led them inside.
Ali was resting comfortably with the baby in a warmer. "Hey, girls." She smiled tiredly at them.
"Congratulations, Ali. You doing okay?" Haliey asked, going over.
"I'm fine. Go ahead and pick Miranda up I'm just going to sleep." Ali yawned. "You will baby-sit, won't you?"
"Of course, Ali. She is our little cousin, after all." Luna said. She picked Miranda up carefully. The baby had feathery light brown hair and was sleeping. "She is beautiful."
"She looks just like Ali.' David smiled at his daughter.
"Where'd you come up with the name Alice?" Hailey asked David.
"Ali's full name is Alice Marie." David answered as Luna passed the baby to Hailey. "She thought it was fitting. Your grandmother was named Miranda."
"You never mentioned that. You never talk about our side of the family." Haily said, surprised.
"It's too painful. My mom died when I was ten. Then I lost your parents when I was twenty-three. Then I got you which was a blessing. Then this little cutie." David touched the baby's cheek.
"She is a cutie." Luna agreed.
Ali and Miranda were released the next day. The guys came over with Tea. "She is beautiful, sir." Yami told David, smiling at the baby. He glanced at Tea. "I hope our baby is beautiful as she is."
"With our genetics, it's bound to be." Tea giggled.
"You're pregnant?" Ali asked. Tea nodded. "Congratulations." Ali smiled.
"Don't you do that. Wait until marriage." David ordered the girls.
"I want to wait." Luna told him.
"Me too." Hailey nodded.
"Don't let this one pressure you." David jerked his thumb at Joey.
"Why me?" Joey asked indignantly.
"You seem more likely to use peer pressure than Yugi." David answered.
"I respect your niece. Can I talk to you alone?" Joey asked a little nervously.
"Me too." Yugi answered, more nervous than Joey.
"Yeah, I guess." David followed Yugi and Joey into the kitchen. "What is it?"
"I love your niece. I want to ask her to marry me." Joey told him.
"I'll let Luna decide. But don't marry until you're eighteen." David turned to Yugi. "You want to do the same thing?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. I love Hailey." Yugi nodded.
"Why don't you ask them now?" David suggested.
"We don't hav rings yet." Joey pointed out.
"Their father bought their mother two engagement rings. One at the time and one when they found out they were having twin girls. Give them these." David went into the living room. The others started as he returned with a jewelry box. He handed them each a ring box. "They'll love it."
Joey's had a large diamond with rubies. Yugi's had a large diamond with amethysts. "It' is beautiful." Joey said, tucking the ring box in his backpack. Yugi did the same. "I'll do it on their birthday." Yugi nodded.
"What was that about?" Luna asked, as Joey and Yugi came back into the living room.
"Wanted to ask something about his restaurant." Joey lied.
"You're up to something." Luna said suspiciously.
"And I'm not telling you what it is. It's a surprise." Joey kissed Luna. "We better go. Talk to you later?"
"Yeah." Hailey kissed Yugi and left.
Hailey and Luna's seventeenth birthday arrived a few days later. Yugi was taking Hailey to David's restaurant where the food would be free. Joey was cooking Luna dinner at the Game Shop.
Yugi and Hailey were dropped off at the restaurant by Yami. "Call when you're ready to come home." Yami winked at Yugi and drove off.
"Okay, what was that all about?" Hailey asked, suspicious.
"Nothing. Let's eat." Yugi led her inside. They were seated and ordered. "You want the good news now or after dinner?" Yugi asked, nervous.
"Now, please." Hailey's expression turned expectant.
"Here goes nothing." Yugi muttered. He knelt on one knee in front of her. Hailey gasped. "Will you marry me? He asked, showing the ring.
"Does David know?" Hailey asked, eyes lighting up.
"As long as we wait until you're eighteen, he's fine with it. Do you know what this ring is?" Yugi asked, holding the ring up to give her a closer look.
"No, what?" Hailey asked, feeling the eyes of everyone in the room on them.
"Your father gave your mother two rings. One at their engagement and one when you were born." David said, coming over. "She left them in a safe and left me the key. They would want the rings passed on to you and your sister. And he's still waiting for an answer."
"It's okay if you don't want to." Yugi stood up, looking away.
Hailey stood up as well. She put her hands on his face and turned it to face her. "Yes. A million times yes!" she exclaimed, kissing him. The whole restaurant erupted in applause.
Grinning, Yugi put the ring on Hailey's finger. "Now don't tell your sister yet." He warned.
"Why?" Hailey asked, startled.
"He could be proposing right now. You don't want to ruin the surprise, do you?" Yugi asked.
"No, you're right. I'll talk to her when I get home. This is the best birthday gift you could have ever given. "Hailey kissed him again.
"You're welcome." Yugi blushed.
Joey was cooking the meal when Luna arrived. "Hey, you are just in time." He greeted her with a kiss.
"What's for dinner?" Luna asked. She was wearing her favorite purple tank op and black capris.
"I know you like Italian, so I made lasagna." Joey grinned.
"I love lasagna!" Luna's eyes lit up.
"I know you do. I hope you like it. Seven kinds of chese." Joey's grin widened.
"Yum, sounds good. When will it be ready?" Luna asked, following Joey into the kitchen.
"Five minutes away. Want something to drink?" Joey asked, holding up a bottle.
"We're too young." Luna reminded him.
"It's sparkling grape juice." Joey told her, pouring himself a glass of dark red liquid.
"Then yes please." Luna nodded and he poured her a glass.
The lasagna was finally ready and Joey served it. As they ate, Luna noticed he was nervious. "Something wrong?" she asked, taking a drink.
"No, everything's fine." Joey said with a shrug.
"You seem…nervous." Luna scowled.
After dinner, Joey pulled out the ring and knelt in front of her. "Luna Reynolds, will you marry me?"
"Oh!" Luna gasped, seeing the ring. "Yes, yes I will!" she cried.
Joey put the ring on her finger. He stood and kissed her. "You've made me the happiest man on Earth." He murmured.
"Where did you get the ring? How did you afford it?" Luna asked, looking down at the ring.
"Your dad bought two for your mom. One at the engagement. One when you were born. This is one of them. I didn't spend a dime."
"Wow. That doesn't explain how you got it. David gave it to you, didn't he?" Luna asked, amused.
"Yeah. While we were there to see the baby when they came home." Joey explained.
"So that's what you were hiding. I was worried you were having an affair." Luna laughed, relieved.
"Iwould never cheat on you." Joey promised.
Luna checked her watch. "I better go. I have to shout it from the rooftop."
Joey laughed. "Go ahead. I'll call you. And no, this isn't just to have sex with you sooner." He said seriously.
"I don't think that. I'll see you soon, fiancée." Luna kissed him again and left as Yugi and Yami came home. "Bye Yugi, bye Yami."
"Bye. How did it go?" Yugi asked, removing his blue button-up shirt to reveal an undershirt.
"Perfect. She said yes. Didn't you see the giant diamond on her finger?" Joey grinned. "How did it go for you?"
"Perfect, Yami dropped Hailey off on our way home. They're probably telling the news now."
Over at the Reynolds house, Luna arrived,. "You will not believe what happened, Hailey."
"You got engaged?" Hailey guessed.
"How did you know?" Luna asked, startled.
"Yugi proposed to me, too." Hailey explained.
"Let's send a picture to Tea. She'll be excited." Luna suggested.
They took a picture of their rings and sent it to Tea. Tea texted a congratulations to them. "This is great! We're all engaged at the same time. Who will marry first?" Hailey asked.
"Hopefully Tea because she's pregnant." Luna pointed out.
"I am so happy." Hailey sighed.
"Me too." Luna sighed as well.