Important Note from Author: I genuinely hope that I did not scare any of you away last chapter! To clarify some things about this story, the story will NOT be a tragedy or have an unhappy ending. I think there is enough unhappiness in the world, and therefore I prefer for there to at least be happy endings in fiction because they make me hopeful. In addition, while there might be some moments that are bleak, I don't intend to make this fic a gloomy one. The fic will be a romance about healing together.

Téa had been happy to see her parents again. They, of course, were happier to see her. They flowered and rained her with hugs, kisses, balloons, presents and just plain tears of happiness. Téa was desperate to get home. She wanted out of the hospital. The doctor said she could leave in two more days. That seemed like an eternity to her.

However, first things first, she wanted to see Atem and apologize. Her mother and father were getting ready to leave. "Mom," Téa called out. "Can you please try to call Atem? I want him to see me."

"Atem?" She squinted her eyes. "I don't know anyone by..."

Téa took a deep breath. "I mean...Y-Yu... ahem, the King of Games."

"Yugi?" Her mother looked at her puzzlingly.

Téa swallowed and nodded her head. It was too painful for her to say that name. Her mother took no bother with her weird behavior. She was glad that her daughter was alive and she was told that Téa might remember things a bit differently.

"You know, honey...Yugi lost everyone else in the crash just like you did." Her mother said softly. "Except you were the only one left. He came to see you every day. Whenever he got out of school, he went straight here. I don't understand it; he came, just to sit with you and hold your hand. He's gotten used to staying long hours every single day, longer than your father and I. He was always here, hoping, wishing for you to wake up. I think he fueled all his pain and hurt into hoping that you'd wake up; wake up so he would have someone left from his friends he cared for."

Téa stayed silent. This made her feel worse… Poor Atem was so devastated by everything! She was probably his last hope. She was the only one left for him. There were other friends still alive that knew about him, Mai, Mokuba...and grandpa was alive, but it wasn't the same.

"Mom. Try as hard as you can to make him come see me, as soon as he can." She pleaded

"Ok sweetie." Her mother nodded and kissed her forehead. Mrs. Gardner put on her own jacket. "Your father and I will be back to see you tomorrow."

Her father hovered over her figure and smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead too. "I'm so blessed to have you back." He whispered.

"Oh dad, stop being so sentimental!" Téa scrunched her nose.

Her father grinned. "That's the Téa I know and have grown to love!" He laughed and reached to grab his coat from the coat rack. Téa's parents waved their goodbyes and left Téa.

Téa felt completely and utterly alone. She couldn't stop thinking about Atem and what she said to him. She felt so guilty. Another doctor was going to come see her in a couple of minutes for more thorough examinations. After that, visiting hours were going to be over. She sighed. She wished she could see Atem before time was up, but that seemed unlikely.

She was surprised to see him walk in a few moments later, however. "Atem?" She gasped softly in surprise. "Were you outside my room the entire time?"

Atem gave uneasy smile. "No... I left to get something to eat a while back...Erm. Your mother said you wanted to see me?"

"Atem." She called out, pushing aside her blankets and making space for him to sit.

Atem stared at her and upon Téa motioning, he reluctantly sat down. Silence ensued for a couple moments before Téa blurted out "I'm sorry. I'm sorry... for what I said." She looked down.

"It was nothing." Atem said.

"Yes, it was. I'm sorry. I was just so angry and I wasn't realizing what I said... and..."

"It's ok, really. I'm just glad you're alive."

Hot tears began rolling down Téa's eyes. "No." She looked into Atem's eyes. "Let me explain... you don't understand." She took a deep sigh clenching and unclenching her fists." How could Atem be so understanding?

"From what I remember, you and...and...him... dueled. He defeated you and you went on to the afterlife. You were gone. It hurt me, so badly." Another tear slipped from her eyes and Atem reached out to grab her hand. Téa clenched it back. "I had my friends to help me recover from it. I moved on, I accepted your death and that you were in a better place. But then you came back, after I thought you were dead. Instead Yugi and everyone else was dead. I yelled those horrible words at you because I had prepared for you leaving me, I got over you being dead, but with the others? It was so unprepared...so sudden...I never thought...I..." She sobbed. It was a lot, and Téa leaned against Atem.

Atem comfortingly embraced her, opening his arms as she spoke. "I never thought I'd lose them so soon." She cuddled into his embrace and sniffled. "Here you are and you've been anxiously waiting for me to wake up and being there for me. You were here for me when I woke up. I...thank you." She whispered, squeezing his tighter.

"Téa, I should be thanking you too. I don't know what would have happened if I had completely lost you too. I probably would have gone mad, destroying everything with my shadow magic, blaming myself for what happened. I still blame myself, but at least I had you to look forward to. There was a chance, just a chance that you might wake up and I had to be there for you; try to help you as much as I can. I tried everything, even that thing with those cranes from Japanese legend."

Téa gasped. "You made a thousand paper cranes?"

"Yes, it was difficult, believe me." He ran his fingers through his hair.

She was deeply touched by this. Atem really did so much for her while she was in a coma. She couldn't even start to comprehend what Atem did in an effort to revive his friend. To this, she would remain ignorant.

"Excuse me." A woman appeared at the door. It was another nurse. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave sir. Ms. Gardner is to be seen and evaluated by the doctor."

Atem nodded and looked back at Téa as the nurse left. He squeezed her hand. Téa noticed this seemed to be a new habit with him. She squeezed back.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning-first thing." He promised. Téa grinned at him.

"Tomorrow is Friday isn't it? At least that's what I was told. Don't you have school tomorrow?"

Atem shrugged. "It's just one day. I want to be here for you."

Téa smiled warmly at him and then looked down. "Thank you." She piped. "I can't wait to finally get out of here. I have to likely stay here until at least Sunday morning. Then I can finally be released if the doctor gives the ok after he examines me today."

"Well then we can plan to do something exciting that day." Atem suggested.

"Oh no." Téa waved her hand. "I don't need any more excitement in my life for the time being. I just want to go home and relax a little." Atem nodded if understanding. "You can come over." She added. "We could watch a movie or something." For a weird second, it felt like old times, except it wasn't. She'd often do this kind of thing with Yugi or the rest of the gang... but now...

"Okay." Atem agreed. "I should get going." He said looking at the clock, but he didn't move, simply staring at Téa. He opened his mouth as to say something, but quickly closed it shut. "Goodbye Téa." He said in a rush. "Stay safe." He said slowly this time. He let go of her hand and walked away, not before turning his head and checking back at her one more time.

Another doctor came in shortly afterwards and did a series of tests, questioning and examinations. Téa felt relieved when the woman finally announced she was done with everything. Once she left, Téa sunk back into her bed and her pillows. The lights were now dimmed and sleep seemed to spread over her. It came quickly to her and she would have liked to say she slept well, if not for the vivid nightmares she experienced whilst she screamed in terror for the rest of the night.

Atem took that quite well, don't you think? It's sad considering the turmoil he must have gone through. As for Téa, it's her first day awake from the coma and it's a lot to take in. To make matters worse, the poor girl is having horrible nightmares.

Let me know what you thought in a review!

~Startistica