I'd meant for this too be more in character, but there are no brakes on the fluff train. I regret nothing! I think there ought to be more fics out there where Jou's dad gets a chance at redemption, and he's not some crazy, drunk, asshole who rapes his son. If everyone can get over the whole Kaiba Death T incident, and the whole Atem putting Kaiba in a coma thing, Jou's dad should have a chance to be a good father. And I would kind of like Mokuba to get a chance to have a nice family since he had a pretty shitty childhood… A bit rambly with a kind of abrupt end, I'll edit this a bit more when it's not the middle of the night.

It'd been a week since Jounouchi Katsuya last visited his father in the fancy rehabilitation center where he currently resided. Sure, the young blonde didn't like the idea of leaving his father, but the old man needed to get better. In fact, his father had agreed to it himself. After a brief falling out all those months ago Jounouchi senior had decided to clean up his act. He said he couldn't lose his son, not after he'd already lost his wife and daughter. Katsuya was all he had left.

So his father packed his things and started rehab. He quit drinking and he quit gambling. He severed all ties with his old buddies and started focusing more on his son. He had years of father son time to make up for, after all.

After signing in at reception, Jounouchi and the Kaiba brothers were greeted by the blonde's father in the rehab center's game room. He looked better than he had in years. His dirty blonde hair and messy attire was just the same as ever, but it seemed the light had finally returned to his father's eyes. And on another note, he was finally starting to lose his beer belly. Now all his father needed was a haircut and a shave.

His father grinned as he stood from his seat and waved at the trio, "Well, well. If it isn't my favorite son and the Kaiba brothers."

Jounouchi rolled his eyes, "Otou-san, in case you've forgotten, I'm your only son."

"Doesn't mean ya can't be my favorite," Jounouchi senior countered. He opened his arms and wiggled his fingers, "Don't just stand there. C'mere and give yer old man a hug."

"Alright Pops. You asked for it," the young blonde grinned. He pulled his father into a bone crushing hug, laughing as his father squeezed his back almost as hard. Since he began sobering up, Jounouchi senior began acting like the father Jounouchi once knew. It warmed the blonde's heart.

From behind Jou's back, his father motioned at the two brothers awkwardly standing to the side. He smiled as he said, "That means you boys too. Get ova here, wouldja?"

Mokuba wasted no time and bounded forward, nearly knocked the father and son over as he joined the hug. Kaiba slipped out of his spot in the corner and reluctantly joined the hug as well. He allowed Jounouchi senior to pull him into the group hug and ruffle his hair. He wrapped his arms around the three and gave them a light squeeze.

Jounouchi senior, Kaiba learned, was just as touchy feely as his son. He was quick to hug, or clasp you on the shoulder. The brunette wasn't especially used to people touching him, especially "father figures". He couldn't fault the blonde's father, however. Jounouchi senior had no clue of his past with his step father. He didn't particularly like or dislike the blonde's father. If anything, he was rather neutral of the man's presence. And although reluctant, he accepted Jounouchi Mabuchi into his little family. Accepting the older man meant accepting his affectionate gestures, though he was quite sure Jounouchi senior enjoyed forcing affection on him to push his buttons. It wasn't so bad, he supposed. It was a hell of a lot better than receiving lashings on his back.

When the older man pressed his lips to the brunette's temple, Kaiba felt the scratchiness of Jounouchi senior's stubble and the familiar smell of cigarettes and peppermints flooded his nose. The small gesture stirred a strange feeling in his gut. It brought memories of a time long ago. A time where his own father greeting he and Mokuba with kisses. He brought a hand to his face and rubbed the spot gently.

The man may have been a drunk, but he had his redeeming qualities. Any man able to raise such an amazing person as Jounouchi Katsuya couldn't be entirely bad. When given the chance, he owned up to his mistakes and took the opportunity to change. That was something Kaiba could admire. Jounouchi senior was kind to his son, and it seemed that the rehab was bringing Jounouchi senior back to the man his son once knew. Kaiba was grateful for that. He knew how awful "fathers" could be. And if it made Jounouchi happy, then he could put up with a bit of discomfort.

"It's good to see you again. Jounouchi-san," Mokuba beamed.

Jounouchi senior lifted the raven haired boy off the ground and pulled him into a tight embrace, "Told ya, ya don't have tah be so formal, kiddo. Ya can call me 'Otou-san', if ya want. You boys are practically my own now."

"R-really?" Mokuba asked, his eyes shining brightly.

Kaiba's eyes softened as he gazed at his brother. Mokuba never got a chance at having a normal family. Their mother passed before Mokuba got to meet her, and their father was stolen away shortly after. Their relatives cheated them out of their inheritance and left them to rot at the orphanage. And, Kaiba Gozaboru… living with the man was absolute hell. Jounouchi senior was relatively harmless when sober. He was able to be the father figure Mokuba needed in his life. His presence offered a sense of stability they never had. It was comforting Kaiba supposed, but he wouldn't be calling the man "Dad" anytime soon.

The older man nodded eagerly, "The more the merrier."

Jounouchi grinned and clasped his father on the shoulder, "So how ya holdin up, Otou-san?"

His father his shrugged his shoulders, "Good. Food's great and the nurses are hot. What more could a man want?"

"I guess you're right," the blonde laughed.

The four of them sat at their usual table by the window. Mokuba produced a deck of cards from his pocket, smiling ruefully, "Want to play cards?"

"Sure thing, shrimp," Jounouchi senior agreed, "We can play poker."

Jounouchi sighed, and wagged his finger at his father in a scolding manner, "Or we can play crazy eights. I won't support your old gambling habits."

"Don't be such a wet blanket, Katsu. Ya know I stopped gambling the same time I stopped drinkin," his father huffed, "Sides, those two would rob me of all my money if we did gamble. I'd still kick yer ass though."

"I'm not being a wet blanket old man," the blonde said, "I just want ya to hurry up and get better. And we'll see who kicks whose ass. Deal the cards, Mokuba."

The raven haired boy shuffled the deck and distributed the cards. They each collected the cards and placed them in their hands. When Mokuba flipped over the first card, Jounouchi nodded towards him.

"You go first, kiddo."

The raven haired boy tossed a card on the table gracefully, "Okay, but just so you guys know, you're all going to lose. I'll bet I can even beat you too, Ni-sama."

Kaiba smirked, as he added a card to the pile, "We'll see, little brother. Though it's a given Katsuya will lose."

"M' not gonna lose, Rich Boy," Jounouchi huffed as he drew a card from the deck.

"Really? Seems as though you're losing already," Kaiba snorted.

The blonde stuck his toungue out at the taller boy playfully, "Ya just had beginner's luck. Get ready to eat your words."

His father blinked as he watched the exchange. He nudged Mokuba with his elbow, whispering softly, "Are they always like this?"

"Yeah," Mokuba whispered back, "They act like they're fighting but they're just flirting. You get used to it eventually."

"Huh," the older man said, adding a card to the pile,"S' kinda cute, I guess."

"No way! Not when they're always making heart eyes at each other," Mokuba muttered.

Jounouchi senior ruffled the small boy's hair, "That's what happens when you're in love, boy. Do ya have a girlfriend yet?"

"No, I'm only casually dating," Mokuba said.

The blonde's father nodded approvingly, "Good. Stay as single for as long as ya can boy. Women will end up driving ya crazy. S' why Katsu bats for the other team I'll bet. He always had a knack for choosing the bad women."

Jounouchi perked up upon hearing his name. He eyed the two suspiciously, "What are you two little sneaks talking about?"

"Nothing, boy. Mind ya damn business," his father said, pushing his son's face away.

"Fine," he grunted. He pointed at his eyes then pointed at his father and Mokuba, "But m' watching you two."

"Well ya should be watchin the game, it's your turn and it looks like ya still losin."

"Damn, again?" Jounouchi whined as he drew another card from the pile, "And I was feelin lucky today, too."

"You need to rely less on luck, and more on skills, Katsuya," Kaiba chastised.

"Potato, potah-to," Jounouchi said, waving his hand dismissively. He looked up when he felt his father kick him from underneath the table, "Ow, that the hell, Tou-san?"

Jounouchi senior ran a hand through his hair, whispering, "Look alive, boys. Sorata-san is coming this way."

"That nurse ya like?" the blonde asked blankly, "Give it up old man. She's too young for you."
"Hush boy. Ya aren't helpin," his father hissed.

"I think you have a chance with her, Otou-san," Mokuba whispered. He waved excitedly at the nurse and used his sweetest voice as he called out to her, "Sorata-san! Over here!"

Jounouchi senior wiped a nonexistent tear from his eye as his chest swelled with pride, "No that's what I'm talking bout. I see who I can really count on."

The older woman smiled as he waved at Mokuba and made her way to their table. She clasped her hands together happily, "Jounouchi-san! How lovely, your family is visiting again?"

"Ah, yes," the man said, nervously scratching the back of his neck, "They come every Wednesday."

"It's good that you have such a nice support system," she said, patting Jounouchi on the back, "It makes the road to recovery much easier."

Mokuba grasped Jounouchi's senior's arm with a pout, "I'm just sad we don't get to visit more often. I get worried that Otou-san will get lonely."

The woman raised a hand to her mouth, shaking her head sadly, "Oh, you poor thing!"

"It would be nice if somebody could keep him company when were aren't here," the raven haired boy continued dramatically as he nuzzled the older man's arm. From underneath his hair, his coal grey eyes narrowed at Jounouchi and his brother.

"Oh yeah," Jounouchi muttered, "Wouldn't want Pops to get lonely."

Kaiba folded the cards in his hand together neatly, "We worry quite often."

"Don't you boys worry anymore," Sorata-san said determinedly, "I wouldn't mind checking up on your father every now and then."

Jounouchi's father flushed a dark shade of red, "Ah, well, that isn't necessary, Miss."

She shook her head, "I insist! How could I say no to such thoughtful children? Do you honestly want your boys worrying over something so silly?"

"No, no! Of course not!"

She smiled, "Then it's settled! We can work out the details later on, Jounouchi-san. For now I'll leave you boys to your game."

"Thank you, Sorata-san! You're so nice," Mokuba said sweetly.

She winked at the raven haired boy, "You boys have a nice day."

The older man waved at the nurse fondly. As soon as she was out of sight he gathered Mokuba in his arms and gave the young boy a tight hug, "And this is why you're my favorite."

Jounouchi's squinted at his father, "Thought I was ya favorite?"

"I'm sorry," his father said, petting Mokuba's hair, "Who are ya again?"

"Har, har, very funny old man. I know ya love me."

His father rolled his eyes, "I love ya more if ya helped me out."

"Ya shouldn't use little kids to help ya pick up chicks, Tou-san."

"But I wanted to help, Jou-nii," the boy agrued, "I've helped you plenty of times. Like the time you broke Seto's—"

Jounouchi waved his hands wildly, abrupting cutting the boy off, "Aahaha. Okay, point taken."

Kaiba raised a brow, "What?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all!"

"We'll talk about this later," Kaiba mumurmed, "So don't get too comfortable."

His dad gave a low whistle, "Looks like you're in the dog house now, boy."

"No thanks to you two."

"Ya shouldn't blame yer problems on otha people, Katsu. S' not settin a very good example for the kid."

"Yeah, yeah," Jounouchi said, shrugging his shoulders. After a brief moment of silence his father coughed loudly.

"Hey, boy," Jounouchi's father said, casually scratching his chin.

Jounouchi looked up from his hand and squinted, "Yeah, Tou-san?"

"Ya visited yer sister the otha week, right?"

"Mhm."

"Say, uh, how's she doin'?" his father asked. Jounouchi senior fidgeted in his seat as he spoke, "She doin alright in school and stuff?"

"Oh, yeah. Shizuka is doing great, Pops," the young blonde said, smiling fondly as he thought of his younger sister, "Unlike me, she's got smarts. She does great in school and she's just as beautiful as ever. I'm practically beatin the boys offa her with a stick."

Jounouchi senior laughed. His laugh was equally as loud and raucous as his son's, "Ah, that's my girl. I've always known she was special, Katsu. I knew it the moment I held her in my arms after she was born. She takes after yer mother, ya know."

"What bout me?" Jounouchi asked, feeling slightly offended.

His father rolled his eyes, "Ya take after me. We Jounouchi men always get the shit end of the stick."

The young blonde bobbed his head in agreement, "Ain't that the truth."

"…So, what about yer Ma?"

This caught Jounouchi by surprise and he placed his cards face down on the table in front of him, "What bout Kaa-san?"

"Well, uh, how is she?" his father asked.

Jounouchi pursed his lips as he considered his father's question. His father hadn't seen his mother or Shizuka since the split. And before his sister's eye operation, Jounouchi also hadn't seen the woman in years. He used to secretly harbor a resentment towards his mother for leaving him and taking Shizuka, although he was long past it. Was his father trying to move on as well?

"Ma. Hmm, well, she's good. Got a nice house," Jounouchi said, "Her cooking is just as good as I remembered it. She's got a new boyfriend and everything."

Jounouchi watched as his father slumped backward into his seat, "S' good I guess. The woman always was too good for me. Another thing bout Jounouchi men is that we tend to go after the ones that're hard tah get. Right, sour puss? I'll bet ya had my boy working extra hard to earn ya favor."

Kaiba shifted in his seat as Jounouchi's father elbowed him playfully.

"Don't tease him so much, Pops," the blonde laughed, "You'll give him an aneurism."

"Ha, ha," the brunette grumbled. He tended to end up the butt of the jokes whenever he was around the father and son.

"Aw don't get mad, snookums," Jounouchi said, wrapping an arm around the brunette's shoulder, "We only mean it in good fun. Ya know I love ya."

"Get off of me, you oaf."

As Kaiba struggled to peel the blonde off of him, Jounouchi grinned, "Don't struggle. It'll only make me love ya more. Help me out, Mokuba."

"Oh, so now you want my help?" the raven snorted. He stood from his seat and wrapped his arms around his elder brother, "I'm only doing this cause I love Ni-sama."

"Knock it off," Kaiba grunted as Jounouchi squished his cheek against the brunette's.

"Shhh," Jounouchi said, "Just let us love you. Pops, come on."

His father gathered the three boys in his arms and squeezed them tightly, "Well isn't this just the damnest thing? This here is a picture worthy moment."

"Ya damn right, Tou-san," the blonde agreed, "But that's alright. We'll always have this memory."

"The memory of you all assaulting me against my will?" the brunette clarified.

Jounouchi smiled against Kaiba's pale cheek, "If that's what you want to call it."

Kaiba sighed, slackening his shoulders, "Whatever. This isn't so bad, I suppose."