Chapter 25: Fireworks
July 2006
Hali went to check that it was indeed her water breaking and called, "Yugi? Hailey?" while trying not to panic.
Yugi entered the room and spotted Hali hunched over. "Hali, are you all right?" she asked, hurrying to her side.
"No, my water broke." Hali panted. "Call Atem."
Yugi helped her to the couch and called Atem. "Hali's in labor, get to the hospital quick." He said urgently into the phone. Then up the stairs, he called, "Hailey, get down here, we need to take Hali to the hospital!"
Hailey hurried down the stairs with a bag. "Let's get her to the hospital. You drive, I'll stay in the back with her."
Yugi helped Hali to the car and they drove to the hospital.
Atem was still fuming as he sat in the security office of the mall. "Don't go near my sister, Duke." he growled at the teen, rubbing his sore stomach.
"I told you I was sorry, how did I know that my ex would turn up" Duke sneered.
"And when did the idea to stick your tongue down her throat sound good?" Atem glared at him.
"I didn't mean to ok? Plus she started it, just lay off would you" Duke said rolling his eyes
"I'm never going to stop protecting my sister."
"I really want to apologize to Loretta, I never meant for any of this to happen, i truly did like her" Duke said hanging his head.
"You won't go near her. You hurt her."
"Ok, ok settle"
On the otherside of the mall Marik still had his arms around Loretta "I'm sorry" she sobbed.
"It's okay, I'm sure the guy wasn't worth it." Marik assured her.
"I really need to find my brother, can you help me?" Loretta said looking up into his eyes.
"Sure, where did you last see him?" Marik handed her a handkerchief.
"I gave him a call to come and pick me up, but I haven't seen him anywhere. I fear something bad has happened." Loretta said with a sniff.
"Maybe we should ask security." Marik suggested.
"Thank you so much for helping me, but I never asked your name. You look familiar." Loretta asked taking his hand.
"Marik Ishtar. It's nice to meet you." Marik smiled as he led her to the security office.
"Wow, so am I, Egyptian that is " Loretta said in amazement, as they neared the security office.
"Is everything ok, you two?" asked the security guard.
"We were wanting to find her brother, he dropped her off here a while ago. Can you look at the-Atem?" Marik spotted Atem and Duke sitting in the corner of the office.
"Marik?" Atem looked up in surprise, then spotted Loretta. "What are you doing with my sister?"
"I accidently ran into him when I spotted Duke with the other girl. Are you ok, Temmy?" Loretta said looking sadly at her brother.
"Yeah, this idiot attacked me." Atem muttered something under his breath.
"What happened here, sir? Why are these two being held in your office?" Marik asked as Loretta glared at Duke.
"I'm sure it was for a good reason, he's never done anything like this before." Marik said trying to defend Atem.
"What happened, brother? this is so not like you, why were u fighting?" Loretta asked as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I couldn't let the bastard get away with hurting you." Atem explained, shame hurting him more than his stomach.
"What can we do to have them released? I'm sure Atem was only defending himself." Marik asked.
"I would agree with that since he smells like he swam in a brewery." The guard replied, wrinkling his nose.
"I do admit to picking Duke up by his collar. I never hit him, I swear." Atem pleaded.
"How much for the bail sir. I will pay it to get Atem out." Marik smiled.
"just get this asswipe out of here. and have him check his messages, his phone has almost vibrated off the table."
"Thank you so much" Marik said with a bow
"We better get you home Loretta, but first I need to check my phone." Atem said as he took it off the desk and read his messages. "We need to get to the hospital, Hali's having the twins." Atem gasped.
"We better get you there then. Thank you, sir." Marik nodded to the guard.
"You can come in my car, follow me." Atem said as he took off running into the parking lot and jumping in his car.
Marik followed with Loretta and they headed to the hospital.
"Excuse me, could you tell me what room my wife Hali is in?" Atem asked as he saw Yugi out of the corner of his eye.
"You finally showed up!" Yugi called, waving them over.
"How's Hali, is she ok? I'm so sorry we are late we got stuck in a huge traffic jam." Atem lied.
"The first baby is almost out, get in there or you're going to have hell to pay." Yugi ignored the excuse.
"Ok I'm going. Gee Yugi, you sound worse than me." Atem chuckled as he hurried towards the room.
"How is Hali?" Marik asked Yugi as Atem disappeared.
"She is struggling a little bit with the first baby, but she'll be fine."
Atem stepped out a few hours later, exhausted but happy. "Taylor, Tara, and mommy are resting."
"What a relief. You look exhausted Atem, come and sit down." Yugi said patting the seat next to him.
"My stomach is killing me." Atem sighed.
"Why is your stomach sore? It's not like you have just had twins." Marik chuckled.
Yami sighed and lifted his shirt, showing a violet bruise already showing. "Duke did it."
"Woah, what did Duke do to you and why?" Yugi said with a gasp.
"He was drunk." Atem explained.
"Oh, so that's where you were when your wife was giving birth. You better hope she doesn't find out, Pharaoh." Yugi smirked.
"You ever going to get used to calling me Atem?" Atem looked over at Yugi.
"Nope," Yugi said shaking his head. "Not when you are in this much trouble." he chuckled.
"Want to go in and see your nieces?" Atem asked Yugi and Loretta.
"Lead the way Atem." Loretta said letting the two boys go ahead of her.
Atem led them to a room where Hali was resting comfortably beside two baby warmers. "Hi, guys." she smiled. "The babies are waiting to see their aunt and uncle."
"Aww they are so cute, what beautiful little girls." Loretta said smiling at the two babies.
"They looks like their mom, definitely."
"Which one is which Hali?" Loretta asked.
"The left one is Taylor. With having twins already we will know how to tell them apart. Will someone get Ryan and Kyle? I want them to meet their sisters." Hali asked.
"I will get the boys for you honey." Atem said as he walked over to the other side of the room to pick up his sleeping boys. "Ow! Um Yugi, a little help please?"
Yugi fought back a laugh. "I'll help." He went over and picked up a twin and handed one to Atem before taking the other.
"What's going on?" Hali looked suspicious.
"Nothing Hali, its fine, I think I must have hurt my back somehow is all." Atem lied smiling at his wife and mouthing a "shut up" to Yugi.
Hali looked unconvinced as they brought the twins over to the baby warmers. "Ryan, these are your baby sisters."
"Sista" Ryan said cutely.
"That's right Ryan, this is Taylor and that is Tara." Atem said pointing to each one.
"We better let Hali sleep. She's had a big day." Marik reminded them.
"Yea, I need to get home and rest my sore sto- back. Would you like to come around for Dinner Marik?" Atem asked.
"Sure, if your stomach can handle it." Marik said coyly before turning away.
Hali glared at him. "What's going on, Atem?"
"Marik" Atem snarled.
"It's my fault Hali, my brother warned me not to go back out with Duke and I didn't listen. He ended up getting hurt because of me." Loretta said sadly as she put her hand on Atem's shoulder "I'm sorry for not listening to you Atem."
"Why were you hiding it from me? And how bad are you hurt?" Hali glared at Atem.
"I'm sorry Hali, I didn't want you to worry. You were already under enough stress from having the girls. He managed to get a few good hits on me" Atem said lifting his shirt up.
Hali gasped. "If you aren't going to get checked out, at least have some ice put on it."
"I will put an ice pack on it when I get home, I promise. I love you Hali and Im sorry for not telling you the truth straight away. I just got so angry when I found what Duke had done to Loretta." Atem said kissing Hali's hand.
"Well I probably would have killed you because I was in labor." Hali gave him a weak smile.
"I know, Yugi threathed me with the same thing in the hall." Atem chuckled nervously.
"The nurse said I'll be released in a couple days so take good care of the twins."
"Ok, I will miss you tonight Hali. I will take good care of the boys you, don't need to worry." Atem smiled.
The group said goodbye to Hali and the babies, taking the twin boys with them.
A couple days later, before Hali was supposed to be realeased, Lena was feeling ill so she took a pregnancy test. It was positive. She had to tell everyone and had a plan.
Being alerted to a knock on the door, Josiah went to the door and opened it to find Atem, Yugi, Loretta, Luna and Joey "Hey bro, hey everyone, come in."
Lena approached from behind wearing a jacket despite the warm weather. "Hi guys, welcome."
"What's with the big jacket, sis? Are you ok?" Luna asked looking strangely at her sister.
"Oh this? Just a fashion statement." Lena unzipped her jacket, revealing a white shirt with the words "I'm little, but causing Mommy big fireworks for this Fourth of July"
"Woah are you serious, congrats guys. That is so cool." Joey said hugging his brother.
"I didn't know, this is news to me too." Josiah turned to Lena. "When did you find out?"
"Just today." Lena admitted.
"Congratulations you two." said Yugi, Atem and Loretta.
"Looks like I'm going to be the next Daddy." Josiah grinned, hugging Lena. "Sparkling cider anyone?"
"We would love some, thanks Josiah" Yugi smilied.
Josiah poured glasses of sparkling cider and passed them around. "To the new babies in the family." he toasted, holding up his glass.
"To the new babies" Every said together as they gently touched there glasses together.