Dear readers/viewers: I apologize for the extremely long delay in updating chapters for this story. I had a big writer's block of where this chapter was going and decided to let it sit. So here we are. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh.

Chapter Thirty-Six: For You, For Us

Nora sat at the head of the put together table. Peppe was over joyed when he was asked to host her birthday party. He had the restaurant closed and prepared for it also.

Seto, Claire, Mokuba, Ali, Tiffany, her family, Mati, and her family, along with Andreas, Rosaletta, Bergitta, and some of the other maids chatted at the table while Peppe and several servers brought out Nora's elaborately decorated birthday cake. It was marble, painted in creme frosting with pink swirls outlining the edges. Her name was written in yellow with light green and sky blue hearts on either side of it.

After singing Happy Birthday Seto and Claire helped her blow out the single candle; Nora squealed with delight. Seto handled the cutting, making sure the younger ones received smaller pieces.

Mac stood between two cars in the full parking lot. A large gift bag was in his hands. He watched intently as the party goers shuffled to and fro. For much of the time his eyes lingered on Claire.

All he could think of was when she would come to him.

Claire stood in the background, a water in her hands. Nora sat in her high chair covered in cake as Seto helped her finish her piece.

"Perfect isn't it?" Mokuba asked, giving her a slight nudge.

Claire smiled. "It is more then I could have ever imagined."

"I'm glad, Claire, that Seto slipped that day and had to go to the hospital." Mokuba looked at her. "I'm glad it was you he fell in love with."

She bumped her head with his. "I'm glad too, little brother...in-law."

He chuckled and went to get more to drink when a bag outside the door caught his eye. "What's this?" He opened the door and handed the bag to Claire.

"Presents for Nora." Claire looked inside the bag. "But I thought everyone was here?" She glanced up to Mokuba and then to Seto. "Why would someone leave gifts outside the door and not come in?"

Mokuba eyed Seto. "More importantly, when did they drop this off and why didn't anyone see them."

Seto got up and hurried past them to the parking lot. He quickly scanned the area for any sign of the intruder; whom he was sure was Mac Hartnet.

"Seto?"

"Stay inside Claire." He said protectively. "You don't know what crazy people are out at this time of night."

Off to the side of the building a loud noise cracked through the ally. Seto turned sharply and went to see what it was. After a few steps he slipped on black ice.

"Seto!"

Mac stood in the shadows of the trees across the street. "Oh Claire." He couldn't help but feel envy for Seto as she came to his rescue, making sure he was okay. "Someday you'll open your eyes and see that I'm the one you should be holding." He placed his hands in his pockets and strolled back to his apartment.

The party ended quickly after Seto's fall. Mokuba and Ali took Nora and the gifts home with them while Claire took Seto to the hospital; Martinez following them in her car.

Ali rocked Nora in her arms as she slowly walked around the nursery. Nora drifted to sleep quickly.

"Only a year old and yet so spoiled." Mokuba teased.

"Who do you think dropped that gift bag off?"

Mokuba sighed. "I'd hate to say it but probably Mac Hartnet."

Ali laid Nora in her crib. She straightened her shirt and turned toward Mokuba. "You don't think it came from Nathaniel Blakeston?"

"What? No I highly doubt it."

"But there is that possibility that he was there tonight." Ali stared into his eyes.

Mokuba thought on it a few before saying something. "I don't know which one is a worst thought."

Seto was sitting on the observation table when Claire walked in. "Well you have certainly made headlines tonight. Kaiba rushed to the hospital for slipping on ice again."

"Look where the first fall got me?" He chuckled. "Would you have me any other way?"

She shook her head, stepping in front of him. "Let me look at you." She brushed away his bangs. "Umhm, I see. All you're going to need is a band-aid."

"Hm, is that all nurse?" Seto commented with his eyes closed; his arms wrapped around her.

Claire nodded slowly. "That's all but it's going to cost you."

He opened his eyes to stare into hers. Her mysterious smile held him in his place.

Martinez walked in. She cleared her throat. "I hope I'm not interupting something."

"No." Claire said quickly, blushing.

Martinez rose a brow. "Well I have some good news for you Mr. Kaiba."

Seto and Claire looked at one another. "Okay?" Seto asked.

"You really enjoy the ice." Martinez smiled. "And it must like you. Nothing showed up so you're going to be just fine."

"That's wonderful." Claire said, placing her hand on his back. "I was worried."

"I would recommend taking a few days off just to make sure, but then that recommendation would die as soon as you walked out this room." Martinez shrugged. "So Claire if he begins to act weird tell him I told him so."

Claire smirked. "Of course. Thanks again Tiffany."

"No problem, now take him home and rest."