HI EVERYONE!

I just checked my E-mail to see if anyone reviewed, since I practically had to HUNT for my story on FF.NET. Imagine my surprise when I saw that I had already received SIX REVIEWS! SIX! I couldn't have been happier if it was TEN TIMES as many!

Anyway, thank you to all who reviewed, and I will try to answer any questions anyone had in this chapter. Special thanks to Mamono for reviewing, it totally made my day, and to Millenium mutant as well. (Oh, and my advice to you, M.m., is that you ask them what their demands are first, then be prepared for the fall-out. Maybe if you gave them each their favorite plushie)!

Aura Black Chan: Hey, I wasn't expecting to see you here yet! How are you?

Serenity: Oh, fine thanks! (looks worried)

ABC: What's wrong?

Serenity: Well, in the trailer you said that I had some sort of problem that only Joey could help with.

ABC: Yes, and?

Serenity: There's nothing wrong with me, is there? I mean, I don't need a Bone Marrow Transplant or something, do I?

ABC: Oh! NO! Nothing like that! I swear!

Serenity: (relieved) Good! I wouldn't want anyone to worry! Especially not Joey!

ABC: Didn't you finish reading the first chapter? I've been told it was too short.

Serenity: I had to finish my homework.

ABC: Oh. Well, that's okay then. Want to do the disclaimer?

Serenity: Sure! Aura Black Chan does NOT OWN YU-GI-OH!

ABC: Whew! Nice lungs!

Like No Father

Chapter Two: The Request

The squeal of brakes snapped him out of his revere, as he listened for the PA system to announce his stop. Listening, he realized he still had another four stops, at least.

Relaxing back into his seat, Joey Wheeler returned to his thoughts, and his reason for being there.

Serenity. Only for his little sister would he come so far, do so much, and risk being left open to so much hurt.

"A dance?"

"That's right." His mother had said. "There's a dance coming up at her school in three weeks, and she needs for you to go with her."

Of all the things he had imagined his mother saying to him, this had to be at the very bottom of the list of things to expect.

"Uhhhm, wouldn't she feel a little weird going to a school dance with her older brother?" Sure, he'd do anything for his little sister, but be her date at a dance?

"Oh, Joey, I should have mentioned before."

"What?" he asked, getting slightly suspicious.

"It's a Father-Daughter Dance."

"Ooooooohhh." Suddenly he understood why she needed him to help her.

"I only just found out about it myself." His mother went on. "One of the teachers on the dance committee called here to find out if Serenity would be going, and if she, or her father, had any food allergies they should be aware of."

"Ouch." Not much else you can say to that. Then another thought occurred to him.

"Uh, Ma, these people are gonna notice I'm not Serenity's father the second I walk in without five o'clock shadow. What about that?"

"Oh, don't worry about it." she went on. "I explained to the person who called that her father would not be taking her, but that you might. Apparently, she's not the only one who will have another family member going, because he went on to say that it was fine, but they needed a head count by tonight."

"How come you only just found out about it?" he asked.

Long pause.

"Ma?"

"She didn't tell me."

"Huh? Why?"

"I asked her that after they called earlier." she said.

"And?"

Another long pause. Then.

"She said that she didn't want to ask you to come here just for her, especially since you'd never been invited before."

"Oh." He said quietly.

"I know." She paused again before going on.

"Joey, please, I know I haven't been the best mother to you, but Serenity really needs you to go to this with her. I never really dated anyone after your father and I divorced, so she has never really had a consistent male role model. Except for you."

They were both quiet for a moment.

"There's one more thing, Joey." She went on.

"Yeah?"

"The day before the dance is your last day of school, right?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Well, I was wondering…"

"Go on."

"I was wondering, if, maybe, you'd like to spend a little time visiting with us here." She finally managed to say.

Joey couldn't believe his ears. He used to dream about going to live with his mother and sister when he was little, even if it was only for a short stay. There were even times when he would half believe his fathers' rants that his mother had left him behind because he was 'a no-good kid'. Now here was his mother, not only inviting him to visit with them, but asking him to take his sister to a Father-Daughter dance.

Incredible.

"Joey?"

"Yeah, I'm still here." He answered.

"Well?"

"How long were you thinking I could visit?" he asked.

"How long would you like to?" she answered.

It was too much. He thought he'd heard wrong. It sounded as if he had just been invited to stay with them as long as he wanted.

He was suddenly aware that his knees could no longer support him, and that he was slowly sinking to the floor. He couldn't hold it back anymore as the tears started to roll down his face.

"JOEY?!"

"Wha…"

"Joey! What's wrong?! What happened?! Are Serenity and your mother okay?!"

He suddenly realized that his friends were all kneeling on the floor around him, and that he hadn't said anything for several minutes. Yugi was right in front of him, gently shaking him, and looking scared.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine." He finally said with a smile, feeling somewhat foolish. "Yeah, everything's fine."

Tristan gave him a strange sort-of look then. "Well, then if everything's 'fine', then what's going on?" he asked.

Joey smiled, leaned over, and grabbed onto both of Tristan's shoulders as he spoke his next words.

"I'm taking Serenity to the dance." He beamed.

"Huh?" Tristan was clearly struggling, and failing miserably, to keep the look of disappointment off his face. "What dance?" he finally managed to ask.

Oh, poor Tristan! At least he doesn't have to kick himself for not asking Serenity out sooner!

I'm just getting warmed up here! I'll try to update at least every other day, and make the chapters a decent length (I hate short chapters too. It's such a cruel tease!).

When I started writing this chapter last night, my story had been posted less than 24 hours, and at the time I only had the above mentioned reviews. I have since received a few more. Many thanks to ALL who took the time to read and review with their wonderful praise!

Now go forth and do so again!