(Small note Kate name changes to Katie a lot don't mind it if it seems to confusing to some I will just make it Kate but Katie sounds so much better then Kate or Kat, remember her name is Kathleen)

I have had a really bad morning first to find that I can't log in to upload my story and then my bike tire rips slicing the tube inside, and making me miss my morning class. AHHHHH anyways enough of my ranting and I would like to thank my two reviewer Twilight Memories, and Darkstar sorry I can't really write out thanks for each of you but from what I just stated above you know why, and to be honest I don't want to be angry and write something that may insult you two.


Chapter 5

The Truth

Alec sat at the counter of the game shop looking through some booster packs that Yugi and she had ordered a few months ago, not one interested her. Alec let out a sigh as Jenny walked in to the shop; she went straight for her mother, the two embraced. Andy and Katie walked in moments later, "Hi, Mom," they said as they walked in. Alec hugged her two oldest, "how was school?" she asked her children.

Kate glared at Andy who was giving a sneer look at her. "Ok those looks say enough, let me guess Andy you were in another fight, and Katie you had to stop it right?" guessed Alec.

The two nodded, Alec shook her head in disappointment "I thought you two would know better then to fight with the other kids," she said. At the same time, "Sorry Mom," they said looking glum. Alec pointed to the back door of the shop, "Homework now and no TV your cousin has been here for an hour, get moving," barked Alec.

Yugi stepped throw the back door with a large box in his hands, "Hey Andy, Kate, and Jenny; I take it another fight at school, I can tell from your faces, sentence to homework and no TV. Well Matt and Troy are under the same punishment, enjoy," said Yugi setting the box on the counter next to Alec.

Alec turned and faced her brother giving him a glare; Yugi gave a nerves laugh as he sat the box on the counter. Andy and Katie walked through the door and left the room, Jenny was standing next to Alec who looked down at her youngest, "I take it that they were protecting you again?" Jenny nodded yes and headed for the door to escape any more questions.

Alec rolled her eyes and looked at the box Yugi was opening, "Yugi what you got there?" she asked. Yugi looked at Alec, "This would be the latest stuff from KIC (Kaiba Illusion Corporation)," he answered.

Alec nodded, "So what has my brother in law sent us now to promote, duel monster and that company I handed him and Sara?" asked Alec. Yugi shrugged, "I don't know thought that you should do the honors," he said handing Alec a box cutter.

Alec smiled, and opened the box, inside was posters, booster packs, entry forms, a few new duel disks, and a note from Mokuba.

"Well looks like Sara and Moky are going to be having another tournament," said Yugi after reading the letter. Alec put her hand over Yugi's mouth, "Don't say the tee…" Katie ran through the door, "…word," finished Alec.

Katie had a large smile on her face, "Did I just hear that Uncle Mokuba and Aunt Sara are holding a tournament?" she asked with a huge smile on her face. Alec rolled her eyes then gave Yugi a glare, "Yes, your President Uncle and VP Aunt have just sent us a box full of tournament stuff, and before you say anything you can forget it; your still grounded from your fights at school so the answer is NO!" snapped Alec.

Katie's smile when to a complete frown, "But Mom," she wined, "it is the last tournament of the season if I miss this one I won't be world champ if I win," Katie then hung her head in sadness.

Alec glared, "I have said this once and I will say it again. NO Kathleen, I don't care how close to World Champion you get I will not let you off grounding for a tournament," said Alec full of anger. Katie stormed out of the room, "Don't you think that was a little strict Alec?" asked Yugi.

Alec turned her glare at her brother, "Yugi when your children enter a tournament to be like you, as their father then talk to me about being too strict!" snapped Alec again. She took the boosters on the counter and went out side to sort them on the porch.

The cold fall air moved over her face as she took a breath, her long blue, white and small gray hairs moved over her shoulders, she sat on the step out side the door. The sun shined on Alec's clothes, she thought to herself why in the world she wore blue jeans and a pink shirt, which was not in her best taste, but over the years, she had found her style of clothes dropping slightly taking the role of full time mom and part time shop owner.

Some children were laughing while playing with some older versions of the duel disks that Seto and she designed before he left six years ago. Alec smiled to herself she could tell that the kids were no older then their teens. Alec saw a young brown hair boy was in a duel with a young blonde girl.

Alec thought back to her duel that she had with Seto 6 years ago. She held back a tear for letting him go, "I should have made him stay," she said to herself. "Make the great Seto Kaiba stay, because you beat him, come on Alec you can do better then that," said a voice in her head. Alec closed her eyes, in her mind she saw Kisara standing in front of her; Alec had not seen her in almost 18 years.

"Kisara, it is you? I mean is it really you?" asked a surprise Alec. Kisara nodded, "I told you I would be around, remember you and me share bodies remember." Alec nodded, "Yeah I forgot, sorry I haven't talked to you in awhile things have been kind of hectic in my life."

Kisara nodded and laughed, "Yeah no kidding, you have three kids, work at your brother's game shop, and Seto is gone; does that about wrap it up?" she asked. Alec nodded, "Yep it does."

Kisara stood next to Alec, "I had a feeling this would happen sooner or later. Alec, I can tell you still love Seto, don't you?" asked Kisara. Alec shook her head, "I thought I did, but now I just hate him for leaving in a way I wished that I had died from my over dosing days. Seto walked out on our marriage, our children, and Kaiba Corp. and I was left with everything that I didn't want, dam him. The thing is I don't really know why?" Kisara took Alec by the hand, "Because of that video tape, you showed him remember, you confronted him on his cheating habits and he ran from you," said Kisara.

Alec looked at Kisara, "I was only trying to get him to tell me the truth about what happened, I didn't think it would cause him to leave us all. For some reason I do think it was more then that tape, but I don't want to think about it," she said.

Kisara shook her head, "Alec, Alec," she sighed, "Seto wasn't leaving because of that, he left because he is scared of you," she said flatly. Alec head popped up, "WHAT! Seto, are we even talking about the same Seto Kaiba here, and you think he is scared of me, why would he be afraid of me?" she asked.

"Because of your anger, he knows you and mistrust, and he knew you would never trust him again. He left you and the kids because he wanted you to be happy without him," explained Kisara.

Alec looked down, "Happy isn't the right word for it, I miss him terribly, Kisara, one phone call that all I ever want from him now, or at least an appearance for me to see, that he is all right," said Alec, she began to feel as if she was falling.

"Alec, can you hear me?" said a voice. Alec opened her eyes, "Yeah, Yeah, Mokuba, I can hear you what is it," said Alec opening and closing her eyes. Mokuba stood in front of her with Melissa and Sara.

"Welcome back to the living, sis," said Sara looking at her step sister. Alec rolled her eyes, "What do you want? Oh, hi Melissa, your cousins are inside the house doing homework again," said Alec sounding not so happy to see Sara.

Melissa walked into the house with out a word, Alec handed Mokuba some of the boosters that she had in her hand "Here give these to Yugi," said Alec, Mokuba walked in side leaving Alec and Sara alone to talk.

Sara looked at her sister, "Well looks like you're having a bad day," she said to her stepsister. Alec shook her head and rubbed her hands over her face, "You don't even know the half of it, Sara." Sara shook head and sat next to her sister, "You haven't had good day since Seto left, so tell your big adopted sister what is bugging you?" asked Sara.

Alec let out a sigh, "SETO Kaiba, that's whom is bugging me," snapped Alec. Sara rolled her eyes, "look, get over him you and he signed divorce papers 5 years ago didn't you?"

Alec looked up, "Yeah, but he could still come back you know or at least visited the kids," said Alec. Sara nodded, "Have you told the kids that you and he are through?" asked Sara.

Alec shook her head "I haven't told them my secret for five years and counting, I don't think I ever will. Sara, I cannot tell them that their father just abandoned them for some person out in California. The kids don't even know where he is and for that I am kind of glad that they don't knowing Jenny, Andy and Kate they would go and practically kidnap him."

Sara looked at her sister, "Alec you need to tell them as soon as possible, they went to talk to Mokuba and me at the Kaiba Corp building after school today, they wanted Seto's email." Alec looked up, "You didn't give it to them did you?" Sara shook her head, "no however Mokuba did."

On the second floor of the game shop, Andy, Kate, Jenny, Melissa and Mokuba were all listening to Alec and Sara talk. Andy turned from the window, "How could she lie to us!" he shouted kicking a trashcan.

Katie walked over to her brother, "This isn't new to me, and I already knew mom saw Dad five years ago." Andy turned, "Why didn't you tell me Kate?" Kate looked at Jenny, "Because Mom made me swear I would never tell you or Jenny. It was five years ago…"

Five years ago

Alec sat in Seto's old office, fingering a pen in her fingers; Mokuba and Sara were standing at the door. Seto walked in, "Well Alec have you thought about what I asked?" Alec closed her eyes and nodded, "Yes Seto and I have decided to grant it to you," Alec took the pen and signed the paper in front of her, "There, you get what you want happy, now!"

Seto looked at the paper, "Yes," he said coldly. 'Something is not right with his eyes, oh well must be the medicine I took' thought Alec. Alec turned the chair from Seto, Mokuba and Sara, "NOW GET OUT OF MY OFFICE Kaiba!" yelled Alec. Seto turned to see a young but very surprise Katie looking at him, "Dad your back," she said.

Alec turned at the sound of Katie's voice. Seto looked down, "No kid, have a good life," Seto took the papers and walked out of the office.

Katie tried to run to her father, but Mokuba and Sara grabbed her, "No, Katie he isn't you father anymore," said Sara. The young Kate began to cry, "No Dad please come back!" Seto walked down stairs and out to his car he got in a drove away, in his mind he could hear Katie's small voice calling for him but it was drowned with another voice a seductive woman's voice.

Katie looked at her mother, "Why did you let him go Mom? WHY!"

Alec let out a sigh and turns back towards the window, "I had to Kate, I am sorry your father and I are never going to be getting back together. Your, Aunt and Uncle own everything now, so we are going to be moving soon."

Present day

"… And that how it happened," finished Katie. Mokuba nodded, in confirming that what she just said was true. Jenny pulled on her sister's uniform; Katie looked down at her 10-year-old sister, "I am sorry Jen, I would have told you and Andy sooner but…" "You were to keep your promise!" said Alec in the doorway, "I can see I have been tricked into telling you two."

Andy looked at his mother, "Mom, why don't we go after Dad get him to come back?" Alec let out a sigh and looked at the ground, "You don't think I tried! Your father left us, he wanted the divorce ok, and he wanted nothing to do with the four of us," said Alec full of rage she trying to hold back her anger, she was not mad at her children but at Seto for leaving her alone to take care of them.

Sara walked up to Alec and touched her; Jenny walked up to her mother and took her hand. Alec looked at her youngest, "I sorry sweetie I wish I could hear you talk again but it looks like your going to keep that vow for a long time."

Jenny shook her head and hugged her mother, in a way she was telling Alec, "it would be ok," in her own way. Andy soon spoke calmly but hints of anger in his voice, "she says that you should have told us sooner but she forgives you, mom."

Alec fell to her knees crying, "I sorry I let him go in the first place." Jenny looked over at Andy, who was breathing hard from his frustration. Kate walked over to her brother, "let it go Andy, this is a tough day for all of us, as tough as it was six years ago."

Yugi, Tea, Melissa, Jade, Meagan, Matt, Josh, and Mokuba watched Alec cry on her knees; Jenny was hugging her mother, Andy over in the corner of the room with Katie right next to him.

Jenny looked at Yugi; he nodded, "Alec why don't you take the rest of the day off, I can cover the store with Tea and the kids here now," he said. Alec looked at her brother taking a sigh, "No Yugi, I need to work I can't just sit home and cry again like the years before," said Alec. Jenny looked at her mother and shook her head.

Alec looked at her daughter, "Your right I won't be able too finish work today," she said, Alec turned to Yugi again, "Yugi I think, I will take the rest of the day off," she said giving in to her younger brother.

Yugi nodded, "Alec go home, and rest, just try and stay out of your depression ok, we don't need you to hook up on drugs again." Alec agreed and stood up, "Well you three; lets get home, I think we have had high enough emotions for one day," said Alec.

Katie and Andy walked out first; Jenny took Alec's hand and gave a small squeeze, which was her way of saying, "I love you Mom," without a word from her lips. Alec looked at her, "I love you too, now let's get home," she said.

Alec walked to the car, Andy and Katie sat in the back seat, Jenny took the front. Alec stated the car and drove up three blocks to their little house in a neighborhood. Andy went straight for the front door, Katie took Jenny to the house, and Alec looked around and looked to the afternoon sky but the clouds kept everything hidden, she let out a sigh and walked to the door.

Jenny was sitting on the couch and Andy next to her Katie was on the phone.

Katie moved the phone from her ear and put her hand on the receiver, "Umm, Mom it's um, well it, umm Dad, he is on the phone." Alec stumbled through the door, "Your father's on the phone?" she said shocked.

Katie nodded, and handed the phone to her mother. Alec did not take it, "I don't want to talk to him right now, you kids talked to him; I am going to go lie down," she said heading up stairs.

Alec walked toward the stairs, Katie put the phone back up to her ear, "Um, Dad she doesn't want to talk," said Katie in the other room, Alec listened in the stairway with her back against the wall.

Katie told Seto how close to coming world champion of Duel monsters. Katie handed the phone to Jenny who gave it five seconds later to Andy who translated her actions over the phone, Alec laughed but then went up to her room.

Alec was on her back looking at the ceiling when Katie knocked on the door, "Mom, Dad says he needs to talk to you." Alec turned on her side and picked up the phone next to her bed, she then heard the click of the phone the kids had down stairs.

"Hello Seto what is it that is so important that you had to talk to me?" Alec asked. Seto let a sigh out on the other end, "It good to hear that you keep the kids busy, how are you doing?"

Alec sighed, "I am a wreck, I fell like you broke every promise you ever made to me and your children. Seto how do you think I am doing? You go away one year and then you come back hand me divorce papers and I don't hear a word from you in 5 years, I been doing just great Seto never better." Seto could tell that last part was sarcastic, "Look I want you to come out here to California or send the kids, but I want to see them, either way," he said.

Alec sat up, "WHAT you after six years you want to see your children, Seto you haven't changed a bit, look why don't you come here to Domino and get them yourself, I am not going to California just so you can see MY children you so proudly walked way from," she said.

Seto sighed, "I knew you say that, look I talk to Mokuba today he is willing to come too, I haven't seen you and the kids for six years at one time," which was kind of true he only looked at them one at a time or hanging in a near by tree.

Alec rolled her eyes, "Seto, I know you want to see the kids but I see no point in dragging them to California, when you can do the same and see them here." "You know Alec you want everything your way, why can't you work with me anymore?" asked Seto.

Alec laughed, "Seto the reason you and I don't get along is you walked out on our marriage and children. I think I hear you mistress in the background so I will let you go, oh and if you call me again don't expect to talk to me," she said.

Katie, Andy, and Jenny had their ears to the door, they could hear Alec ranting and raving.

Seto let out a breath, "Alec it was you who wanted to leave me at first remember, and another thing you gave up everything I gave you," he said. Alec rolled her eyes, "Yeah then I turned it over to Mokuba and Sara, who is by the way, living in Domino in your old mansion. Mokuba has a son now, and Jenny your daughter hasn't said a word since you left that is if you don't count laughing," she said. Jenny giggled; Andy put his hand over her mouth, "Shut up Jen you're going to get us caught."

Alec continued to talk to Seto, "And finally was having my permission to send the kids was part of you plan to see them, forget it, Kaiba but I am not letting those three out of my site, they are MY children," she said.

Seto rolled his eyes on the other end of the phone line, "Look Alec, make a vacation out of it considering that Mokuba already has you tickets and it is all paid for, and so you don't have to pay anything," he said.

Alec sighed, "Hang on a second, Kaiba," she walked over to the door and opened it, Andy, Katie, and Jenny fell into the room. "I take it he asked you three already?" she said to the three children on the floor. The three nodded, Alec took the phone back to her ear, "When do you want them to come?"