Okies…………..I think I know. Know what, you ask? What's wrong with Mokie! He's possessed! LOL. If you read Bakura No Mokuba you'd understand...ah, never mind me! Let's start chapter THIRTEEN.

Disclaimer: Do you know I'm am so tired of writing these? No wonder.

& Chapter Thirteen: She's What? &

"Ohhhh….." Serenity groaned in disappointment, when she saw the weather. It was totally white outside, the fine-sculptured gardens of the Kaiba estate covered in the snowy wet blanket. The rate didn't look hard, but it was constant. "I guess it's canceled……sigh..."

"What is?"

Serenity jumped and turned at the sound. The mansion was dark and tomb-looking today; since when Kaiba was away, the servants would 'play.' That is, 'slack off'. Serenity let them. Let them have a day's off for rest, she figured. The overworked staff were getting pretty close to rebellion.

Speaking of which!

Mokuba's smiling face came around the corner, his hands at his waist. His once sweet smile had gotten to more of a sneer.He still looked impossibly cute with his thick dark waist length hair. He had gotten, lately, in the habit of either scaring people or freaking them out.

"A fitting." Serenity answered, squinting sternly and rounding on him. They were friends, albeit. "Mokuba……do you have something to say?"

He opened his eyes real wide. "Who, me? Nahhhh."

"Something about…….fighting! In school?" She gave him a little fake smile to match his own. "….Maaaaaybe?"

One finger tapped the principal's note. "Ah, yeah. The fighting," he said, nodding and changing the subject. "So, what's this 'fitting' for? Mai's wedding?"

"Don't change the subject." She said warningly, putting her hands on either hip.

He came up. A lanky, rail-thin fifteen-year-old in old black sleeveless shirt even in the winter, with all the promise of his brother's height, he had to look slightly down. "Aw, all right. But I wasn't fighting! This guy tried to punch me, and I ducked, and he got his hand stuck through a window!" he said, grinning widely.

She was shocked. "That's isn't funny! He punched through a window? Is he all right?"

"His whole arm's off, but yeah, he's all right." His grin went even wider.

"Very funny." Serenity sighed. She rolled her eyes and stepped away, shaking her finger threateningly at him still. "And I don't want to hear any more fights from school, got it, mister?"

He let out a theatric gasp and collapsed.

"Funny." She walked away looking up at the big jeweled clock in the foyer again. "Did your brother speak to you?"

"Oh, yessir. He said," Mokuba cleared his throat, at looked pinchingly constipated. " ' Mokuba, grow up ALREADY or you're going to BOARDING SCHOOL. Military BOARDING SCHOOL.' " The rascal's grin widened again. "And then I said that I wanted to be ghetto rapper, and he nearly blew a vein! You know, that one three centimeters to the exact right of his right temple?"

"I see it didn't affect you in the least." Serenity said in a disappointed voice. Mokuba's face fell a bit. But then, he sat up from the couch on his knees, bouncing excitedly like a five year old.

"Is t-t-this 'fitting'…….for….materniiity clothes?" he said playfully, blinking with innocence.

That made her freeze up. Solid. "How---how--how---?" He gave her that wide eyed, innocent puppy dog eyes he still had, and wielded regularly. The one that made it impossible not to blame him. For anything. Quivering lip and everything. He could go commit murder and be found holding the knife, and still, no one ever would suspect. Serenity thought ruefully that it was he that showed her how to do it, only to be used against her! Now I know what Seto has to go through. Poor guy. "How…..did you know I was...?"

Mokuba heard the real question with a thoughtful cock of his head: did you tell him. "And I awready told Big B," he replied, still innocent as apple pie. " I ssaid, ' Hey big B, it shore is gonna be niiiiiice having a new nephew, Big B.'"

Sreenity took a look around to see if the hired help was eavesdropping. They were, discreetly. Heart sinking, she said, "No, I-I…..want to be the one to tell him….."

"I told you, I told him!" Mokuba sang out. "He didn't b'lieve me though. How many months along? Let's see..." Mokuba screwed up his face in thought, bouncing on the couch cushions. " One, two...Ssoo...eight months. I'm right, aren't I?"

It was clear she was shocked nearly witless. "H-how….did you know that?" she ventured timidly, not sure she REALLY wanted to know.

In response, Mokuba's smile widened, sinisterly. Serenity's jaw dropped in horror, and when the phone rang, and when she clutched at it, she was shaking.

&&&&&& Don't fret if you didn't get the joke at the end. It means you're normal &&&&&&&

Later…..

"Ah!" Mai sighed, as the warm, heated indoors greeted them, a relief of a rescue from the frigidity of outdoors. She unwound her long, cream colored scarf, and took off her fake fur coat, or faux fur, since she knew her friend Serenity would have a cow if it were real. (She was a big animal-rights activist.) In long indigo sweater with rhinestones and slim leggings, she still managed to look worth a million dollars. "I REALLY Think. It's. Going. To. Blizzard." She said obviously with a short chuckle and rubbing her arms for warmth.

"I know! We'd better wait 'til spring fer our wedding." Joey set the car keys down, with the phone. "An' it's, 'There's gonna be a blizzard,' not…………whateva you said." He looked up to see a stricken expression on her face, as he took off his hat and coat. "Jest……correctin' your grammar!"

"No, it's not that. We have to wait all the way until spring?" she said in disbelief. Then she looked indignant. "And who are you to correct grammar!"

Sheesh……"Well, yeah, we hafta wait, if dere's a blizzard." It was the middle of December. "Ya can't expect people to fly down in a snowstorm! All da airlines'll be canceled, and da flights….."

Mai chewed her lip as he went to the living room of the Wheeler house. She'd come there to tell Serenity that the bride's fitting had been rescheduled, but if the wedding would have to delayed, then…..

It might be even later than the rescheduled date! "..."

"Is your sister home?" she said as Joey came back. He shook his head no, blond hair flying in puzzlement. Serenity didn't have a dorm at the university, even though she did attend. (She had graduated earlier with exceptional grades.) "Oh, man," said Mai. "That means……."

"Means what?" he said, coming up behind her.

"Ummmm. Never mind. Isn't Tea staying over here? Is she home?" Mai walked past the kitchen, calling the brunette's name. She found a note saying, 'Helping at the Game Shop. BBS.--Tea.' "Helping out again at Yugi's……."

"Hm. Dontcha think it strange she's stayin' ova here all da sudden?" Joey mused to himself. "I mean, why don't she stay at Yuge's? Tea is his best friend."

Mai gave an impatient sigh, as if dealing with an amateur, turning to him. "Isn't it obvious! She doesn't want to get any closer to Yugi because she's going to leave," she explained when he continued to look blank.

"How do ya know?" She did seem to have a sixth sense about other relationships around them.

"Well," Mai looked slightly embarrassed. "She told me from the start, that she was only here for a short time." A mischievous grin suddenly spread. "I may have made her a bridesmaid... to delay her stay….."

" 'May have?' " He cocked an eyebrow at her sideways.

"Okay, okay! I did it on purpose." Mai admitted nonchalantly, putting the note back. "Besides, she is my good friend, anyway. She should be in my wedding."

"Fine. Ya c'n invite anyone ya like, so long as that I'm on your list," he joked, coming around to give her a hug.

"Hmmm……." She purred softly, wrapping her arms about his neck in an so familiar fashion. "Oh, you are. As well as for the 'after-wedding' hours, okay with you?" she murmured huskily, rubbing the tip of her nose with his. He grinned, his deep brown eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Definitely." They still hadn't set the honeymoon yet, where or when. She was thinking Europe, or maybe Hawaii……or maybe someplace closer. Most likely the latter. There was no way to fund the trip. Her parents were still adamant against her marrying outside their class, and putting her trust fund off-limits to her.

I do have a little nest-egg……..but I'll have to be careful and not spend it all. Save some to live by.

"How about we set it Christmas Day?" Mai said, setting the wedding date, as he burrowed his nose in her silky-soft skin of her neck, nuzzlingly, softly, as the window continued to show sleet and snow. "It'll be perfect and romantic for a wedding ceremony." (Christmas was the day of love.) "What do you think...?"

"Mm…..'s fine. As long as dere's no blizzard, it's fine. Actually, tell ya what." He took her hand and looked up at her seriously. "It's fine wit me, but only if ya don't talk any more about the wedding for now, at least til tomorrow. Tonight, we concentrate only on each otha."

"Mm! Deal." She hugged him tight and they kissed softly, long and lingering, and then climbed upstairs to be alone, holding hands. It was true she had been so busy making arrangements and setting schedules, that they'd hardly had time to spend with each other, except talking on the phone. One of the most important things in a good relationship was to spend some quality time with each other…….to talk, and cuddle, and to flirt.

Plus, they had the house all to themselves for once……."Wow, is this your room!" She couldn't help it; being with him made her feel like she was sixteen again. She laughed at the way she'd sounded in embarrassment.

"Yeah, well, my old room," he amended, since now he lived at the university now. And was forever glad because of it. It looked pretty bare and neat for once, since his mother had happily given away all his stuff the minute he left. Only his bed and a single light gray drawer was left. The room was windowless and closet-less. He was glad to a decent room at the dorm.

She looked up at the Duel Monsters posters that were pretty old, from a year or so back. One was from five years back. Has it really been five years? She remembered she'd met him kind of close when they were invented.

And that was all. "Your sister's room is much better-looking than yours," she remarked as she sat down on the single bed, twin but comfy-looking. "Or was it always like this?"

He knelt so they were eye-level, making her feel even more like a child, and even petted her on the head, smiling oddly, a bit. A brief smile. "Always was like dis."

Hm, she thought, as he climbed in the bed with her. She'd always thought he and his sister had the pretty, same, decent life. As a child, that is. Not like her, who was hand-raised by a constantly onslaught of nannies or hired help. Never her parents. "Wait……aren't your parents divorced?" she said, looking up as he took her and cuddled her close. One finger played with his collar of his long sleeved shirt underneath a patterned sweater she got him last Christmas.

"Yeah, a long time ago, tho'. So?"

There was a touch a defiance in his tone. It intrigued her, more than while tracing his face. "So…..their divorce---it didn't affect your feelings about the concept of marriage at all?" she ventured cautiously. She didn't want to bring up bad feelings, especially at a time like this, but she felt she had to find out.

"Naww….." He looked up at the door, still ajar--he'd forgotten to close it---and then down back at his fiancée with a smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "I figger, dat's them, dat's in dere past, an' my future'll be totally diff'rent from dere's." While she was absorbing that, he kicked the door shut. (Luckily, it was pretty close enough to kick.)

"Well…..that's a very, um...logical way to think about it," Mai said, searching for the right word. Her fingers still felt ice cold as she touched his face, and he took it in his to warm it. "And you don't seem like a 'logical' sort of guy. Usually. No offense," she said, as he pretended to pout, and smiled up at him, delighted. When he grinned back finally, she added softly, "You seem to be always full of surprises, Joseph Wheeler."

He made a face at her, a cross between a sulk and a pout and she laughed softly. He hated to be called by his full name. "You'll have to be called that sometime, you know…..! What're you going to say when the minister says, 'And do you, Joseph Wheeler, take this gorgeous woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?' " she demanded, poking him in his hard chest. "Are you going to look around and say, 'Who's dat? Huh?' "

"Verrrry funny. An' ya think ya're so 'gorgeous,' eh?" He gave a surreptitious smile. "Well…….ya're right." He ran a thumb over her sparkling engagement ring on her equally elegant hand.. "I have a very beautiful fiancée," he said, dead seriously staring in her equally sparkling eyes. "Soon... to be my wife."

"Your wife, very soon," she agreed, nodding softly, and their kiss that ensued seemed to be like a seal on a pact. Often, since they were so different, they made deals with each other; compromises that they both kept their end of the bargain. Else, they'd drive each other nuts. Iwill make this marriage work, they were both thinking.

And I won't be like them……as the kiss went on and on, arms tightened and breath became weak, she pulled away suddenly, breaking it, looking like a doe caught in the headlights at him. His deep dark eyes searched hers questioningly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just realized……where we were, and what we were doing. We have to stop, before..." The amethyst diamond sparkling in her left hand; the lights were still on and everything But she looked so innocent all the sudden, like a girl who never got asked to dance at the prom. "I mean…..I know we're engaged, and all, but..." She went on, emphasizing when he continued to look blank. "It's still precarious."

"Ohh." Taking a sitting-up position, he dangled his legs off one side of the bed, and she, skeptically, followed suit.. "You doan hafta worry.I-Ic'n control myself."

"Ohh, really?" She said incredulously, not only to what he was saying, but how easygoing his manner was. They had never talked about it before.

"Oh, yeah," he said with an ultra-convincing nod, looking straight at her without waver. "I mean, I wouldn't wantcha ta get pregnant---especially before marriage. Even though, we're already engaged an' all."

"I see." She said, nodding with over-realization with a cross of her arms. "How very noble of you."

"Well, it's true." Here, he leaned back and gazed up at her. "I see young girls get pregnant alla time, and dat just makes me SICK. Just sick, ya know? Plus, den dere boyfriends usually run out on dem, an' what kinda man is dat? He has to takes care of his business. Else, he's no man," He nodded self-righteously. "Jest a coward, dat's what!"

Mai's skeptical smile faded, to be replaced by a real one. "Wow….I didn't know you even thought about things like that! I have to admit... I'm impressed."

"So, you agree wit me on dis?" He grinned up at her, but was serious. "We'll wait, 'till our wedding night. Like I said."

"Yeah, I agree with you...except for one thing." A sudden sly glint reflected in her deep violet eyes and she returned his grin.

He frowned. "What's dat….? Hey--!" he said as she tossed him back on the bed like a beanbag sack.

"That you'll be able to control yourself. I don't think you will. Nope. Heh heh heh…." She chuckled as she got on top, pinning him down and latching herself on him like a sucker fish. Joey gave an umph at her weight, this was so not what he meant! Not the running through the hair fingers, he thought. The torture was almost to much to bear. No, not the hands under the shirt! Or the ear thing! Not the ear thing! he conitued to moan as she bit his tender earlobe and then his lip softly.

Then...Rrrrip!

Mai had a fight down a laugh at the look on his face as she sat back up. It was positively priceless. No wonder, since she had his shirt in her hand---the shirt that was under his sweater. "H-how didja do that!" he exclaimed, taking it back. There was not a single rip in it, it was fully intact, no buttons even popped.

"Magic, sweetie." she said mysteriously with a wink, still giggling.

Yeah right…..he started to putting it on, trying not to blush. And failing, by the way, Mai thought as she reached for him before he could.

She tore the other one off, and it was just like a magician pulling a tablecloth from a set table trick. "There we go! Much better. Maybe I'll teach you after we're married….." With a quick movement, she tossed him back into the bed with a push, while he made grunted protesting and made pleas to stop teasing. "Maybe…." she finished with a smile and a tickle, while he looked down at her in love.

Soon, his protests turned into sounds of pleasure. Just when things were really heating up--not like it wasn't already---- from downstairs, there was the sound of the front door opening.

Mai released him, phewing, hearing it, and he just lay there, panting and looking EXTREMELY dazed but happy with bright-red heart-shaped marks all over his skin. She pushed her long, golden blond locks out of her face where they had stuck to her cheeks, smiling down at his reaction to her little 'preview' of the up-coming wedding night. It was when the call of "SEEEERRRRREENNITY!" throughout the whole house that shook him up.

"Hm? Huh?"

"Someone's--someone's calling---here, put this on," she said breathlessly, as he scrambled to the door, peeking out, all the while putting on his sweater that she handed over his head. She watched, amused, as he tried to pull himself together. "Who is it? "

"Ummmm. Ma." He answered shortly, pulling on his other sweater. Then, feeling too hot, he changed his mind.

"Ooh! The parents," she said saucily, glomping him from behind, nearly making him topple over in the doorway.

"Stop it...!" he said desperately, trying not to look suspicious. "She'll throw me out, if---"

"Serenity dear! Are you here? I have the adoption papers!" Mrs. W sounded as if she were coming closer.

'Adoption…...' what? Joey frowned, continuing to peek out behind the door and pull down his shirt at the same time.

Meanwhile Mai appeared to not have heard. "Well, come on, we have to tell her about us sometime," she said, getting up and walking to the door.

"Wait!" he said, wanting to hear more. Just then, Mrs. W came up the stairs and spotted him, hanging fron the door like he was. Straightening up, he said sheepishly, "Hey….Ma……!"

"Joseph! What're you doing, skulking around like that!" Mrs. W was livid. "You want to kill me! You want give me a heart attack! Look at you. What kind of hair is that! You look like--like a thug, that's what!" She continued to rant and rave at him, as Mai peeked around the door. Straightening, she stepped out through Mrs. W's screaming.

"Hello," Mai said easily, but her gaze was sharp and clear already.

Mrs. W blinked at her and cocked her head, as if trying to remember. "You... you're Serenity's friend, aren't you?"

"Well, yeah…." Mai went on, "but I'm also engaged to your son as well." She expected Mrs. W to say, Engaged! and started ranting again, but the lady just blinked without comprehension. Beside her, Joey also turned around to look at her.

"Oh…..yes…..Serenity might've told me about something like that……it's nice to meet you." Just like that. Mai was surprised. "Why don't we have a talk, over some tea."

"Sure….I'd like that," Mai agreed, casting a look over at Joey, who flashed a weak thumbs-up and a smile, then disappearing back upstairs. The two women went into the living room, and Mrs. W set the teakettle to whistle. Mai glanced over her shoulder, seeing Joey not following. Weird.

"Well…..I'm glad Joseph's finally settling down," Mrs. W said loudly, setting the teacups and spoons, her brown coat flailing.

"Here let me," Mai offered, as the older lady took off her coat.

"Thank you……you seem to be the right sort of person for him. Orderly and neat." Said Mrs. W, her gold-rimmed glasses glinting. "I was afraid he'd find some floozy and get her pregnant with five children, and end up in prison because he can't pay the welfare checks."

Mai smiled, a little tightly. The lady didn't seem to have a lot of faith in her only son. "You do know he's in the university right now?"

"Oh….yes….." Mrs. W said softly, pouring the hot water and setting two teabags in each cup. "You'll have to forgive me, my memory's not as it used to be. I'm getting too old, I guess."

Mai smiled, for real this time. She could see, as subtle as they were, what Serenity was talking about: The lady and Joey were a bit alike. "No, you're not….."

"Yes, I am." The older woman sighed, staring off into the distance like her daughter sometimes did. (Mai bit a smile back). "I want to see my children settled down, you know, married with solid, respectable jobs. Joseph always gave me the most trouble…..even when young, he was always a reckless boy."

" 'Reckless?' " Mai encouraged, with a frown.

"Oh, yes. And even now, he still is. Changing his mind every minute, never deciding on one thing…..I was SO afraid he'd be a bad influence on my little Serenity, but thankfully, he hasn't." Mrs. W smiled fondly. "She is SO the opposite of him, a nice and neat little girl……"

Mai thought she saw Mrs. W's eyes mist over suddenly. Boy…..this woman's deluded, she thought, glancing at the still empty stairway. It was obvious she was the kind of parent who played favorites. Poor Joey……no wonder he doesn't get along with her.

Well, at least she's not like my mom...Mai thought as the lady continued to talk about this and that. No one was worse than her!

"And what am I going to do about the new addition…..?" bemoaned Mrs. W, holding her head, just like Joey did and massaging her graying hair.

But she didn't have time to think about that. " 'New addition?' " Mai said, bemused, her violet eyes on the lady's brown ones.

Mrs. W didn't seem to have heard. Glancing down at the strewn papers, she plucked them up. "Which reminds me, I have to give this to my daughter. We should do this again sometime," she mouthed off the polite necessities and got up. "The Walla Agency." Was written on top in bold. Mai got a glimpse of it, and sat there alone for a while, puzzled.

That's--that's the name of a nearby adoption agency…….why would she be giving that to Serenity?

She barely heard the front door close, trying to figure this out, frowning, and didn't look up as Joey thumped downstairs to the kitchen to join her. "Is she gone again?" Sheesh--

"That's why!"Mai blurted out suddenly, startling him. "Oh My God! She's pregnant!" Oh, my God!

"W-who is?" Then it hit him, too. Then, he thought of only two letters...

TBC!

A/n: well……Meh. I liked when Mai 'tested' Joey's honor... Ah. LOL.

A/n: Thanks y'all. Next: Joey knows! 'Nuff Said. R&R, plz!