Chapter 26: Overbearing

August 2006

Marik arrived at the game shop front door, and knocked, nervous. After what the last suitor went through, he was prepared for the worst.

Atem went to the door and smiled. "Marik, it's so nice to see you, come in."

"I'm not sure you'll be happy to see me when I tell you why I'm here." Marik wrung his hands as he entered, nervously keeping a distance from Atem.

"Oh and why is that?" Atem asked raising a regal eyebrow watching Marik sit down.

Marik took a deep breath. "I want to ask Loretta on a date."

"What is it with you boys wanting to date my sister? I will allow it after how well you looked after Loretta when she needed comfort. Thank you for coming to me first." Atem said with a nod.

"Thank you, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a repeat of Duke. I assume part of it was because he didn't ask first. Loretta told me the story."

"Yes, he just turned up here and asked if she wanted to go out to lunch with him. It's when he called here and was drunk that got me angry." Atem said balling his fist on his knee.

"Where is Loretta? I was hoping I could take her out now."

"She's probably with Hali, helping to look after our two sets of twins, easy Mr. Eager."

"Well, would you see if she's busy?"

"Sure, sit there and I will be back in a minute." Just as Atem was about to walk out of the room Loretta walked in, in a pale purple mid length dress.

"Now who may I ask was talking about me?" Loretta asked.

"I was wanting to ask you something, Loretta." Marik said nervously.

"Oh hey Marik, what is it?"

"Would you go to lunch with me?"

"Oh, um sure, Atem" Loretta said loking back at her brother

"It's okay with me, he asked first." Atem nodded.

"Ok, well I don't think I need to change. Lets go, just let me put my shoes on." Loretta smiled.

"Okay go ahead. I'll wait." Marik smiled back.

"Thank you, I will only be quick." Loretta giggled as she slipped her sandals on and did up the buckles "I'm ready now."

"Let's go then. Atem, I'll be a perfect gentleman." Marik promised Atem.

"You better." Atem warned Marik.

"Be nice, brother." Loretta giggle. "So where are we going Marik?"

Marik led her out of the house by the arm. "It's a surprise."

"Ooh I like surprises." Loretta smiled.

Marik walked her down the street, holding her hand now. "You doing all right?"

"I'm fine, it's nice to be with someone that I can trust. I thought I could trust Duke, but you are different, Marik." Loretta smiled at him.

"Better looking, right?" Marik teased.

"Well yes, that too." Loretta blushed.

"Can I ask to do something?" Marik seemed nervous.

"Everything ok?"

"Oh yes, I was wanting to know if I could kiss you." Marik blushed.

"Oh um, sure. I'm a bit nervous, but I trust you." Loretta smiled.

"I just want to make sure I don't wind up like Duke." Marik chuckled nervously.

"You will never be like Duke." Loretta assured him leaning into his arm.

Marik leaned down, touching her cheek. He kissed her tenderly.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Loretta deepened the kiss before breaking it due to the lack of air. "Thank you Marik." Loretta blushed.

"No problem."

"That was really nice."

"Lead the way Sir."

Marik led them to a small cafe. "I thought this was a perfect spot to go to for a date."

Walking into the cafe Marik and Loretta got themselves a drink & something to eat. Once they had finished they decided to spend sometime together at the park.

"What's your plans for the future? Not that I'm expecting you to decide on us right now." Marik hastily added.

"I would like to be in a relationship with you Marik. You're such a sweet guy, I'm sure he will be fine with it because he knows you."

"He's probably not so fine with my past."

"Nobody is perfect Marik. Look at Bakura, he did way worse things than. You plus you apologized for what you did. And then helped him, so I've heard." Loretta giggled.

"You're too kind." Marik smiled at her.

"I was brought up to be kind, everyone deserves a second chance." Loretta said kissing his cheek.

"I better get you home before Atem sends the cops after me fearing the worst." Marik chuckled nervously.

"Good idea I was just thinking that."

Marik got up and led her back to the game shop.

"Thank u so much for a lovely time, Marik."

Marik noticed the curtains move in the front window and sighed. "I better not kiss you goodbye, the watchdog is at the window."

"It doesn't stop me from kissing you, though." Loretta smirked leaning into Marik and giving him a short, passionate kiss.

The door opened and Atem cleared his throat. "Say goodnight, Loretta."

"Night Marik," Loretta giggled as she ran sheepishly into the house.

"Goodnight Atem, thank you for allowing me the chance to go out with Loretta" Marik bowed.

"No problem. Just remember what might happen if you hurt her." Atem warned.

"I would never dream of it."

Weeks passed and Marik and Lorettas relationship grew. Picking up the phone Marik dialled Atem & Hali's home number. "please pick up." He muttered.

"Hello?" Atem answered.

"Ah Atem, its Marik, would it be alright if I took Loretta out again?"

"Let me ask her." Atem was gone for a moment and then came back on said she agreed.

"Does she have any swimming gear? I'm planing on taking her to the beach."

"I'm sure Hali can loan her something." Atem looked over at Hali, who smiled at Loretta.

"I will be there in five mins if that is ok?"

"Sure, I'll make sure she's ready. See you then." Atem hung up the phone and turned to Hali and Loretta. "You ready to get her ready for another date, Hali?"

"I can help her, where is Marik taking her?" Hali asked as she took Loretta way to get changed.

"She might be getting a little wet and would need to dress appropriately." Atem hinted.

"Oh, I see, I know exactly what she can wear."

"Go with Hali and get ready for your date, Marik will be here soon."

"Coming Hali, I don't want to miss my date with Marik" Loretta said happily as she followed Hali to the bedroom.

As Hali searched through her drawers, she asked, "How much skin do you want to show?"

"Maybe not too much."

"Here, try this one then." Hali tossed her a deep blue one-piece.

"That looks really nice." Loretta said as she took the swim suit to the bathroom to try on. She came out a few moments later Loretta came out "Does this look ok Hali?"

Hali smiled. "He won't know what hit him."

"I just hope my brother approves. It's not too revealing is it?" Loretta asked looking around herself.

"Compared to what he usually sees me in? Please." Hali tossed her two pieces of fabric. "That's what I wear at my best."

"Wow, that is beautiful, I think I might need to go shopping again." Loretta giggled.

"Loretta, your date is here!" Atem called from downstairs.

"Here, take this." Hali urged, packing a beach bag real quick. "Everrything you'll need. And have Marik apply the lotion. Even Atem can burn, beleive me."

"Coming, Thank you Hali, I'm sure he will enjoy that" Loretta giggled.

"If he's like Atem, yes he will." Hali giggled as well.

"Bye Hali, Bye Atem." Loretta called as she went out the door.

Marik was waiting for her in a t-shirt and swim trunks, a towel wrapped around his neck. "Wow, you look great."

"Thank you Marik" Loretta said kissing his cheek.

Marik led her to the beach and set out a towel for them to lay on. "This is where we hang out in this time. Sun screen?" he offered, seeing the tube in her bag.

"Yes please, can you put some on my back?" Loretta said as she got the tube out of her bag handing it to him as she flicked her hair over her shoulder.

Marik smirked as he squirted some on his hand. "It'll be a bit cold." He warned, rubbing it into her exposed skin.

Shivering slightly and then relaxing to his warm hands, Loretta smiled. "Thank you for helping me Marik, that feels really good."

Marik cleard his throat, moving his hand away when it was applied. "That's enough sun screen. Any more and I'll be in trouble with your brother."

"It's ok, he's not here to see what we do." Loretta smirked "He can't hurt you for helping me."

"It's not that. He's not going to not like the ideas I'm having." Marik gave a guilty chuckle.

"You are allowed to touch me Marik, don't be scared. I'm giving you my permission." Loretta pleaded "But if you are too scared to do my arms, would you be ok with doing my face? I would hate to get sunblock in my eyes." she pouted cutely batting her eyelashes.

"Turn to face me, I'll try to do your arms and face." Marik instructed, squirting sunblock on his hands again.

Closing her eyes, Loretta nodded. "I trust you, Marik." she said out of the corner of her mouth.

Marik began working sunblock into her skin, being careful of her eyes, nose, and mouth when he got to her face.

Feeling his hands gently massaging the lotion into her face, Loretta smirked tilting her head slightly so he could get at her neck.

"Would you mind doing my back and front?" Marik handed her the tube when he was finished.

"Sure no problem." Loretta said still smirking as she squeezed a blob of sunblock onto her hands. "Chest first or back?"

"Chest." Marik removed his shirt, revealing his tan, toned skin.

"Can you lift your head up just a little bit please Marik," She said as she started to rub the lotion onto the tops of his shoulders first.

Marik tilted his chin up, lowering his eyes to watch her work.

Massaging the lotion in his chest, Loretta worked her way down over his pecs to his abs. "You can turn around now." she said nervously not being able to take her eyes off his toned chest.

Marik noticed her staring and cleared his throat. "See the problem I had?"

Giggling nervously, Loretta cleared her throat also as a deep blush formed on her cheeks. "Sorry Marik."

"Please don't let your feelings for me get pushed away by whatever you think my Brother may think of you. We are on a date and kissing is natural. I will stop you if you go too far, but i know you wont. I trust you and I...I love you Marik." Loretta said letting her head drop so her bangs would cover her blushed face.

"My body is saying one thing while my brain is saying another." Marik chuckled. "My heart is agreeing with you."

"You're such a sweet guy Marik and I dont want my brother ruining our relationship. He's been acting too much like our father ever since I got here. I want to be with you and don't want you being scared off by Mr. High and Mighty Pharaoh." Loretta chuckled placing her hands on Marik's chest.

"He's not going to kill you." Marik pointed out. "I'm saying he'd kill me."

"He wouldnt dare, if he knew what was good for him, plus I have you to protect me" Loretta smiled.

"Thank you so much for the lovely day out Marik." Loretta said giving him a very passionate kiss as she spotted Atem out of the corner of her eye.

"You're late." Atem growled.

Completely ignoring him, Loretta locked eyes with Marik & mouthed "just go, I'll be fine" as she kissed his cheek

Marik gave her a worried look. "You sure?"

"There is something that my brother and I need to discuss and I don't want you here if there is a fight." Loretta said as she purposefully kissed Marik again in front of Atem. She was still watching him out of the corner of her eye.

"Be careful." Marik gave Atem a nervous look and walked away.

"Excuse me, please." Loretta said as she pushed passed Atem bumping his shoulder.

"Where do you think you're going?" Atem asked, coldly.

"I'm going to lie down is that ok with you, your majesty." Loretta snapped giving him a mock bow before walking off.

"You're acting weird lately, what's wrong with you?" Atem snapped, reaching for her arm.

"What's wrong with me? What is wrong with you, brother? You have done nothing but act like an overprotective jerk the whole time since I got here!" Loretta sniffed as tears welled up in her eyes. "Yes you were right about Duke, but not everyone is the same!" Loretta snapped.

"I have the right to be overprotective. Not everyone is a great guy like they were in Egypt, Loretta. Act like an adult, not a child."

"I wish I was still back in Egypt. You will never be Aknamkannon." Loretta yelled as she stormed off slamming her bedroom door behind her.

Atem sighed, rubbing his tired eyes as Hali came over to him. She had heard the door slam. "What was that about? She woke the babies." She had to raise her voice over the crying of four cries.

"I'm sorry Hali, this is all my fault. I'll help you settle them before I go see if Loretta is ok." Atem said as he walked towards his children's rooms.

"Let me take care of it, okay? You probably are not the best person to handle it based on what I heard." Hali followed him.

"She's my sister Hali. This is a family issue that needs resolving and only I can do it."

"Then give her time, as someone with an overbearing father figure, you're just going to make it worse if you try now." Hali reasoned.

"How am I ever going to handle having two daughters if I can't even look after my own sister properly?" Atem sighed dropping his head as he leaned up against the wall.

"Take advice from your wife is a start." Hali advised, giving him a small smile. "I was a girl once as our boys probably will remind me in the future."

"I love my sister and I just dont want to see her getting hurt. She's right, I was being an overprotective jerk. I've been treating my only sister more like my daughter."

"She's an adult and be there for when she needs it. Kick ass when she needs it. But don't be the dad when she picks the right guy. She'll never have a healthy relationship. Now let me test the waters and see when she's willing to talk, okay? You'll just push her away if she's not willing to talk."

"I've known Marik for a long time. He's one of those people that actually helped me to become who I am today. Now I fear I have chased him away too all because I tried to act too much like my father. I think I should call Marik and apologize to him as well."

"You do that and I'll take care of the kids. I'm sure that would go a long way toward repairing your relationship with Loretta."

"Thank you for your support Hali." Atem said as he embraced his wife, kissing her cheek.