"Oooh, Doctor Death looks mad." Serena commented.

"Joker's saying no!" Mokuba announced as he sat in Serena's lap. Serena was teaching Mokuba how to read and the boy was making great progress. She was sitting in the rocking chair with Mokuba on her lap, holding out his favorite comic book for both of them to see. Yugi and Joey were sitting on the couch working on homework, while Yami was fiddling on the piano.

"That's right." Serena encouraged, "what's he saying right here?"

"I will re…re" Mokuba stuttered over the difficult word.

"Reduce," Serena supplied.

"Reduce you puny planet to rub…rub…rubble." Mokuba finished proudly.

"Good, that's very good sweetie." Serena congratulated.

"Are you going to leave?" Mokuba asked suddenly. The other three boys looked up from what they were doing to look at her, waiting for her answer.

Serena looked at the faces quizzically. "No" she answered finally. "I'm your mommy." She said giving Mokuba a squeeze.

"But sometimes mom's leave." Mokuba protested.

"Well, I suppose some do, but I'm not going anywhere." Serena answered.

"Good!" Mokuba exclaimed as he pulled out a slightly wilted flower from his pocket. He presented the flower to Serena who gave a squeal of delight.

"Is that for me?" she asked taking the flower.

"Yes. I found outside in the yard." The other boys exchanged humorous glances.

"It's beautiful, I'll always keep it." Serena promised as Seto walked in the door.

"Seto, you're just in time. Dr. Death is on the rampage." Serena kidded as she looked up at him.

"Dad! I got an A in English." Yugi proclaimed.

"I got a flunk in math!" Joey added

"We'll have to work on that." Seto answered distractedly. "Kanna, I need to talk to you. Alone guys." The boys got up and went upstairs. They stopped about halfway up, close enough for them to hear the conversation as they peered down at the two adults. Seto looked at Serena's expectant face as he sat opposite from her on the couch.

"Kanna, I've done something that I'm not very proud off." Seto began. He had been rehearsing how he was going to tell Serena everything. About her not really being his wife, and why he did it.

"I already know." Serena said knowingly.

Seto looked up at her bewildered. "You do?" Serena nodded wordlessly. "What do you know?"

"That you work nights at some big company unloading computer parts." Seto had to think when he heard this.

'What is she talking about? Oh, She must have seen me when we got in that new shipment of parts at Kaiba Corp. We were short of help that night and it was imperative that we get those parts installed. The boys told me that she came to bring me my bowling ball and she must have seen me on her way home.  That's what she's talking about.'

"You don't have to be ashamed because you unload computer parts for a living. I'm proud of you no matter what you do." Serena continued as she laid a hand on his arm supportingly. "Is that what you wanted to tell me?"

"Well, yes, that's part of…um…no." Seto said searching for the words.

"What is it?" Serena asked gazing at him. Seto scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Kanna, I…I…" Seto stuttered as he looked into the pleading faces of his brothers on the stairs, then into the supportive face of Serena. He just couldn't. He couldn't do that to her. She didn't deserve it.

"What is it?" Serena prodded.

"I…I forgot your birthday." Seto lied as he sighed deeply.

"It's my birthday?" Serena gawked.

"Come on, we're going out!" Seto said standing suddenly as the boys gave each other a high five. They were keeping her, at least for now.