A/n: Yay! YGO has the most stories than any anime! I owe it all to myself. Now to only take out those HP guys . . .
shemka ona - I can't wait either! The wedding's gonna take a bit tho.
Cecilia DevilAngel - Nope, he's busy missing his 'Rennie! Aren't you, Seto? (Seto grunts)
animelover - You have to wait and see! "Hope" is a pretty name, tho...I always liked it.
StarWolf4 - Yes I agree, but Yugi's very shy and me likes shyness for guys...X3
DarkEgyptianPrincess - Joey must be blind...
Linkin-Phoenix - Your review(s) wins 'most entertaining.' Gotta yami too, down, girl...
Magicman/Smokegirl - 'Despise him utterly', eh?I'd call it love...XD J/k Meep.Jus' teasin'.let me live...
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Gi Oh or Family Feud, only my original creativeness.
-
-
Chapter Twenty Seven: Mrs. W Still Don't Got It Going On
(A/N: It's official! Titles and me don't mix! Tah well.)
"BUT WHY?" Mrs. W's heartfelt cry shook the whole two-story house. It was the Wheeler's residence, on a normal-looking street, a house looking like a hundred next to it. It was a comfy-cozy looking house, and a very nice place to live in. Green shutters with a yellow trim, neatly manicured bushes in the front and back yards. Serenity's garden flourishing in the background. Bushes strategically placed to keep out reporters, media, and press.
Said auburn-haired girl bit her lip, and continued munching on her pickle-flavored potato chips. Mrs. W was Serenity's mother. Joey's mother, too; he came to live with them at sixteen. Three years ago. Eyes wide, she focused only on the next potato chip coming between her lips and stared stotically ahead. "Family Feud" was playing - pretty appropriate.
She wiped her fingertips free of salt. "Mom . . . I told you . . . I'm not calling him until . . . after the baby's born." She is so going to go ballistic . . . right about NOW.
"But whyyy!" Mrs. W cried, bemoaning as she flapped her arms. At thirty-six, she had a strange combination of her favorite daughter's tendency to get over-emotional and Joey's short-fused temper, with her own orignal cluelessness. "All week you haven't done anything, except eat and sit on front of the TV. I had to practically drag you out to Lamaze class, yesterday-"
Seren winced again. That had been an embarrassing event, if not the most embarrassing event of her little short, eighteen-year-old life. They hadn't enough money to go to a decent hospital. The class had been filled with a bunch of kooks - a couple that was so fat she wasn't sure who was the pregnant one, a girl with long, black hair and dark skin that looked like Mokuba, except she was a girl, with a boy that looked twelve-years-old, and Rex and Weevil...-NOT together!...I think.
Anyway, it had all been very embarrassing.
"Puhleeze, call him." Mrs. W begged. She started shoving the cell at her daughter, chasing her when Seren ran away. She was still agile, even though her waistband was gettinghuge;those pickle chips were like Miracle-Gro. "You didn't break up, did you?"
"No, Mom. We didn't break up. I have to do this: I'm not talking to him until after the baby's born-"
"Well, call and tell him that, then!"
"That would count as talking to him."
Mrs. W sputtered, then her face cleared. "Oh! He asked me to ask you personally. Forget what he said to to you, or didn't say, or whatever! All men go a little crazy when they're about to become fathers. Your father and I, got married. So, you see?" Mrs. W's pleading eyes made Serenity feel rotten to the core. Ridiculously, she wished her Mom wasn't so understanding when she told her that she was about to become a grandma. Seren stared at a neardy window. Reporters were camping out on the neat, small lawn eagerly.
"I . . . have to do what I believe is right," she said in a meek, smile voice.
She gave a tiny, pathetic little sniffle. Mrs. W threw up her hands. And started pacing around the shag green carpet with her hands plunked on her hips, like Joey did, when he was upset. Suddenly, Serenity wished for Joey right now. He would understand. Why I'm doing this; like always.
"Staring into space, all day . . ." Mrs. W went on, while her daughter fidgeted uncomfortably andguiltily, in the corner. " Now I've got reporters on my lawn, hanging from my trees . . . taking a picture of me in my nightgown . . . " She rubbed her temples so fiercely that it was scary to watch. "Why are you ACTING so - so - so - so just like your brother!" She leaned back. "Joseph!"
"I didn' do it," Joey said automatically, plunking his keys on the kitchen table. Coincidentally, Mai was right behind him, just in time to hear Mrs. W's shrieking cry. She bumped into him as he stopped short.
Uh oh . . . Ma's in one 'o her rants again . . ."Ow!" Mai said. "What's the deal?" She'd been talking on her phone over the stream of reporter's chatter outside. "What is it . . . ?"
"Uh . . . maybe we'd betta go someplace else?" he said, smiling feebly. How embarrassin'!
"JOSE-PH!" Mrs. W came storming up before he could usher out to the piranha reporters. "Talk some sense in your sister!" She thrust the phone forward at her son, ignoring Mai. They regularly butted heads. "You tell your sister to make up with her boyfriend!"
The reporters clicked away madly. Shutting the door, Joey stepped into the room and took in the scene. Serenity's eyes instantly brightened, at the sight of him. She waved, a potato chip bag crinkled in her hand, not seeing him for six days. "Hi Joey. Hi, Mai."
She blushed and stuffed the bag behind her back. "Heya, sis." Boy, what a mess. I come home from taking grueling exams, all morning at the university, to dis? Argh. Stupid Ma. He cast an anxious sideways glance at Mai, sure she was looking to find a way out of here, like he was. But she didn't seem embarrassed, just watching interestedly at the little scene, moving aside as they went towards the living room.
"I. Am. Not." Joey said, throwing the phone at a couch; it bounded off a pillow. "Askin'. Her. To. Make. Up. With That Jerk." Joey smiled at Serenity. Mai had told him all about what had happened six night ago, and instead of being all angry like Serenity's Mom, for once, he was proud of her. "Seren an' me is gonna take care of dis baby," he plowed on. "and we don't need 'im." Mrs. W gasped raggedly.
His sister's big brown eyes glittered with emotion. Wringing her hands, she blurted: "Oh Joey, I thought, when I first told you I was pregnant, I thought you weren't being sincere! When you told me you'd always support me." She threw her arms around him, and whispered, "Thank you."
He forced a smile.
"See? SEE? See what you've put in her head!" Mrs. W looked unmoved, and she looked like she might explode, "You made her think that she can take care of this baby on her own! This is all your fault. That, and why Mister Kaiba and her have broken up."
In the corner watching, Mai opened her mouth, then thought better of it. Restlessly, she patted her hair down on one side. Joey's mom, looks like she needs a good slap. That's weird; she wasn't like this when I met her before . . . I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.
But she almost rose on her feet when Mrs. Wsuddenly said,"And don't you call our Mister Kaiba a jerk!" She shook her finger at him. "He is a highly respected member of our community, not to mention my boss. He ACTUALLY has a job, and makes good money. What do you do? Looks it this hair; and clothes!" Joey flushed a deep angry red, saying nothing; she pulled his long, waist length hair. Ironically, Mrs. W at first complained that her daughter was dating, and then realized who. "And-and don't think I don't know about your 'little' pranks and practical jokes you've pulled on him!"
"Jokes? Jokes? What jokes . . . ?" Serenity said. Mai's eyebrows winged up as well. Joey looked slightly guilty; he stuffed his hands in his jeans' pockets. So he didn't tell 'er . . .Interestin'.
" . . . And if I hear you call him that again you're out on the street!" Mrs. W declared; Joey mouthing the last part along. Obviously, they had this arguement before, many times.
Only Mai hadn't heard it before. " . . . excuse me," she said, amazed. "He lives at the university now, so technically, you can't throw him out of his own house." Why isn't he standing up to her? That's weird.
All three looked equally startled, but not as much as poor Mrs. W. "Who are YOU?"
Not liking her belligerent tone, Joey said, "My fiancee Mai!" His mother blinked.
"Oh . . . right . . . " Looking at her up and down, Mrs. W certainly did look bewildered. "Mia. Serenity's friend . . . "
Serenity said gently, since dangerous lights were in Joey's eyes, "Mai, Mom. Her name is Mai."
"That's what I meant - to say. Sorry. Don't look at me like that. I'm getting old." Joey snorted unforgivably. Mrs. W sighed, gathering herself up. "I need to go to work . . . then take Serenity to the doctor . . . If I die, who'll take care of her?" she muttered angrily to herself, moving past them all. "If I die-"
"Halluelujah," Joey muttered, taking his sister's hand, not waiting until his mom was out of earshot. "C'mon, sis, we have to go."
"Go? Where?" Her eyes oddly bright.
"To a wedding fittal. Did you forget?" He smiled at her. "Right, Mai? Mai?"
"Right," Mai said, staring thoughtfully at the stairs. Serenity ran to get her disguise. "So. You don't get along with your mother . . . ?" He was at a loss, not sure how to explain. She could see that. Smiling, she held out her arms out, bangles clinking;and he surprisededly walked into them. "Aw . . . poor thing . . ."
"Me, go? Like this?" Serenity pointed to the chip crumbs all down her front on her lemon maternity dress. She came back, with a clunky pair of black plastic glasses, the kind nerds were,and a long overcoat.
Mai winked at her from behind Joey's back, "My poor, poor tough guy. Was she mean to you? . . ."
Serenity smiled back. My big brother and his soon wife-to-be.Trying not to show the enviouson her face, she chirped, "Let's go,"and they went outside to fight off the reporters and theirflashbulbs and come out of there in one piece.
( -( - (- Later -)- )- )
Chesca, manager of Francesca's Wedding Tailoring for All, was an old beauty college roommate of Mai's. And old was key: she looked at least thirty five years old, a plump, well-kept woman with shining blue-black hair spun around her head in a French twist. Looks like a Q-Tip ta me. She was wearing diamond jewelry that was so shiny, it hurt to look at her directly. "Maiiiii; Miss Indie!" she squealed in a husky, Greta Grabo voice. They hugged.
"Let me look at you!" Mai smiled nostalgically. Ah, memories of college . . .
"Soooo! Miss Independent Fell In Love. Where is he! Is this him? Ah . . . ah . . . "
"Yep, this is him," Mai said proudly. Chesca's face lit up slowly in a Your-pulling-my-leg-right? grin.
"Um? Oh . . . he's cute! . . . tee . . .hee . . . right this way, please." The plump, business-suited woman turned down a hall, still giggling girlishly.
"Why was she laughing?" It had sounded like an laughing-at-you kind of laugh, and Joey had heard enough of those to know it.
"I dunno . . . you're a funny guy." Mai shrugged, not really bothered. Let's see, how much is this all going to cost . . . ?
"I didn't even make one joke!" But he soon found out when she asked him what everyone in Domino was dying to know. They all went down to a very wide expansiveroom, where all the wedding party would be fitted for respective gowns and suits. Tea, Ishizu, and Serenity were to be bridesmaids; Yugi, Ryou, and Tristan were to be the groomsmen, and they were all there. At Ishizu's pressure, Mai had agreed to let Marik usher with Mokuba and Duke, under one condition: that hE sTaY oUt oF hEr wAy.Mai hadsaid this really omniously, with a long sewing needle brandishing in the air. They had all laughed, a little nervously,at the expression on Marik's face, even Yugi, who was feeling a lot more cheerful now.
Chesca's lovely assistants, all young women, started taking the guests' measurements, as well as the bride's and groom's. Tristan frowned as Duke's got a particularly cute assistant. "The bet, for that," he said, pointing. As Duke started to work his charm, Tea called from across.
"What are you doing, Tristan!"
"Aw, damn . . . " Tristan said as the cute assistant was nodding and smiling at Duke, agreeing. There goes my fifty bucks... "I had bet that ol' Dukie here can't get any girl," he said extra-loudly.
"Boys," muttered Tea, with a dark look. Duke looked up.
"You can join her in cooking me breakfast," he said. Tristan looked nonplussed, then a quick look of concern, at Yugi. He was looking surprised: I didn't know Duke liked Tea.
"Get bent," Tea shouted back, squashing all his disbeliefs.
"Maybe you'd like to go out with Duke, Tea?" Serenity said hopefully. She didn't know that Yugi liked Tea; she was getting too heavy to climb up trees any longer. Plus, he's getting to be a pretty fast runner . . .
"Tch. Ha! As if," Tea said, scowling while writing in her daily planner. "I'd first lose my head andgo out with Kaiba!" she said distastefully. ". . . er, no offense, Seren."
"None taken," Serenity simpered sweetly. She made a face at Tea when her back was turned, grumbling.
"Tuh . . . I didn't know dat Duke liked cha," Joey said to Tea, out of Yugi's earshot. "I thought you like Yuge!"
"I do!" Tea turned a reluctant red. "It's all Mai's fault that that Duke likes me!" She cast furious glances at said blonde.
"Hmm?" Mai said slowly, hearing her name, looking up from her paperwork. "Did you say something, Tea?" she said sweetly, taking note that the brunette was in kind of a bothered mood today.
Tea said nothing, just glared with her face all red. She kept looking over at Yugi, who was immersed in a chit chat with Ryou and Marik.
"Oh," said Mai with lack of interested involvement, getting it. She continued to fill out her paperwork. At Joey's question, she said, "She's talking about about the time she flashed him, darling."
"What?" Joey said, looking disbeliving at Tea. It seemed like a very un-Tea like thing to do. He began to laugh.
"It's not funny, Joey!" Tea said too loudly. She quieted her voice. "I didn't do it; Mai made me!"
"Ah, yes," Mai said, with an annoyingly gleam in her eye. "It gave ol' Duke a thrill, that day on the boat ride, to see Tea, flapping in the breeze."
Tea made a choking sound of outrage and pulled her sweater dress over her chest more tightly.
Mai simply chuckled and went in for the kill. "Didn't it, Dukie-boy?" she called over the other chatter. Now I can finish in peace.
"Ohhh yeah, dat boat ride, like two years ago," Joey said, finally realizing it.
"Did you see her, too?" Tristan whispered. Duke was smiling reminsciently of the very same dayand Tea was swiping at him. He didn't want to get hit too.
"No,I was too busywas beatin' dat Kaiba up, bringing out a can of whoop ass with a series or Elbow Drops-punched him outta dat boat, I did."
"More like he was beating you up," Tristan said, eyebrows raised.
"You mean, you weren't getting along?" Serenity said, looking shocked at her brother. That explains a lot.
"Hey, whose side are ya on!" Joey said to his friend. "Jus' fer that lil comment, I'm making Yuge my best man."
"Is that your final answer, dear?" Mai said with a turn. "Because, whoever's your best man gets to walk with Seren down the aisle . . . "
Tristan looked like he was going to take his remark back.
"But then, Yugi is going to walk with Tea," Mai said thoughtfully...staring at Tristan's hopeful face...
Meanwhile, Mokuba, dressed all in black,was talking with Serenity, his grin stretched ear to ear, purple and pink highlights in his long black hair. He was too tall to be the ringbearer, but there wasn't anyone else, and besides, Rebecca was to be the flower girl. "Big brother's really lost an' lonely without cha, 'Ren. All he does is be in his bed, moanin' and groanin', cryin' and saying, Why me! That, and bury his head in his arms on his desk."
"Mm, hm!" Rebecca said, with her ponytails bobbing. "Us spies have the proof an' everything. Tell her about the ice cream, Momo."
"And he just keeps getting fatter and fatter, 'cause all he eats is strawberry ice cream and listen to the radio-" Mokuba screwed up his tiny face, and broke into Why is Life so Complicated? song.
Serenity let out a choked, laughing sob, and walked away. Ishizu, having overheard this, asked if it was true.
"Why do you wanna know?" Rebecca said suspiciously, but looked awed at the Egyptian's pretty jewels at her throat and wrists. "Ooh . . ." she said, with her green eyes all aglow.
"Um . . . thanks, that was um, very interesting, Mokuba," Tea said, with her eyebrows raised at Yugi. Like we really wanted to know about Kaiba moaning and groaning in bed! Mokuba beamed, proud to deliver the message, then went over to Joey who was talking to Ryou.
"Aren't you thrilled to soon be an uncle? Hey, we can be . . . " Mokie took in a deep, excited breath. "Uncle buddies! Pals!"
"Thrilled," Joey replied sarcastically. Mokuba knew how he felt, but just liked to bother him. Joey took, however, some satisfaction that the younger Kaiba had grown up to be so different from his elder. Maybe then, there was hope that this kid wouldn't be like his father. Joey had had been having the Uncle Dog recurring nightmares a lot lately. I think I'm going to go cry now . . .
Mischief managed, Mokuba clapped high five with Rebecca. Like Mrs. W, they blamed Joey for it, along with some others.
"Hey, Joe," said Tristan, pointing. "Aren't you going to stop him?" He was pointing to Serenity, who in her distress had bumped into Duke, who had promptly began chasing her around the room. The assistants finished, and moved away. "Duke is chasing her, man!"
"Huh? Where? Where?"
"There. There!" There was just a blurred streak of red, and black. This was usual; the other girls' hair merely ruffled as the two went past, in the breeze.
"Give it a rest, Duke," Tea said as they went by.
"I dunno what in da world your talkin' about, Tris." Joey went off to cry in peace, since Mokuba had depressed him.
Tristan sweatdropped - Joey was always in the dark about those two.
It was Ishizu who said, "Excuse me, Duke. I need to talk with Serenity for a moment." She turned, her shawls clinking as Serenity slumped down on a chair with a poofy green tasseled pillow. "Er. Why don't you just tell him to buzz off?" she said, once Duke went off.
Puff, puff . . . "Oh," Serenity said optimistically, "It gives me, er, good exercise, right?"
"Er. Okay." Ishizu decided not to dwell. "Besides, how are you feeling? Did you go and get those, uh, sonogram things?"
"You mean an ultrasound?" The young girl stilled her heaving chest. "No . . . not . . . yet . . . "
"Good. Don't," Ishizu advised. "Besides, You already know its sex, right?" Serenity frowned, and started to open her mouth. "So you don't need one, anyway." She lowered her voice; Serenity looked at the floor with a wrinkle deeply etched between her eyebrows. "This child is going to be very special, and by that I mean - well, You'll see soon enough. You are eight months and a half along, are you not?" She straightened and beamed, not really expecting a reply. "Did you get your hair cut?"
"Oh . . . yeah!" Serenity patted her head, tucked a lock behind her ear. "More like layered . . . does it look okay?" The two began having a friendly chit chat about hairstyles. What did she mean? There's something she's not saying for a reason . . . I'd better tell her that I'm having those Dreams again, the one about the little blond girl . . .
Chesca interrupted her thoughts again, with her husky boom. "Okay! We've picked out the right sizes, finally!" Everyone cheered, in hearty relief. "This way. Men go to the men's fitting room, women to the women's. Bride and groom, this way!" She guided them importantly.
They all filed out, still chattering and catching up on old times. Serenity wished that Kaiba was here to be in the wedding also, but Joey had forbidden it, under the declaration that he would have an ulcer. Indeed, he did look very pale, as he went by her. I hope that I don't go into labor on thewedding day . . . and while I'm walking down the aisle with Tristan or whosoever . . . that'll be totally embarrassing! Crossing her fingers for luck, she heaved a sigh, noticing the TV channel flicked instantly. Oh yeah, and I forgot to tell Ishizu about that too . . .
Ishizu wasn't surprised. She actually winked over the barrier, stripping off her long white dress. "That's to be expected, young Serenity." Secretly, though, she was worried. Serenity needed the support of her baby's father during the delivery . . . and if Seto's just moping around like little Mokuba had said true, how is he going to make it there? Worried, she bit her lip, slipping on the lilac gown. It set off her tan perfectly, making her look stunning, but all she could do was worry, and fret - it seemed no one else was.
"Rebecca, you'd better not have another squirt gun!" Tea threatened in a matching lilac gown. She was to be the maid of honor, in case Serenity couldn't fulfill her duties.
"I don't know what you're raving," Rebecca said, making a face at her. She looks like a grape . . . She tucked the gun back into her purse. "I don't like Yugi anymore. Or you. NYAH."
Tea stared after her as the little blond, pigtailed girl ran off, then felt a tingle. "Do you guys know where a bathroom is?" They all shook their heads. If Rebecca is there . . . But no. She saw her talking animatedly with Mokuba; they seemed to be plotting together.
"Trying to get a peek?"
Tea whirled as Duke passed her. "You wish!" She passed the men's fitting room, still looking. In one room, there was a bride's dress, all set out on a fitting dummy. Another door in there led to Mai's and Joey's voices; Tea listened for a while. "Oh honey . . . you look so handsome . . . " said Mai; Tea peeked in and saw her hugging someone. Probably trying on the groom's suit, Tea thought. Backing away, she started fidgeting. It was so beautiful, was the bride's dress, and Tea covered it with a long white sheet. So Joey won't see it . . . before the wedding. Superstition, and all. The veil, long and filmy and white, made of pure silk and sheeny, fell off. Tea picked it up, to put on the dummy.
Instead, she tried it on, before the full three way mirror. Quickly and quietly, with a quick glance so that nobody was watching. I still don't think they should get married, she reasoned with herself. I mean, I think they're still too young, it's too early . . . but what-ever! It's not like they'd listen, anyway. She tilted her head this way and that, admiring how the material made her long, wavybrown hair seem mysterious. It's just too sudden . . . I don't think - wait, what am I doing? I-I don't want to get married! It's not like I have a boyfriend, anyway. She started to take it off, hastily and very guility. Man, Mai would probably hoot her eyes out if she caught me!
A differen't voice cleared his throat. "You-you look really beautiful."
Tea whirled for a second time, at the sound of the voice. "Oh um, hi, Yugi. I was just- just- er, don't tell anyone, okay?" She sounded extremely agitated, and imploring.
"Of course not. But I'm sure Mai wouldn't have minded." He came closer, but stopped a few feet in front of her, as if giving her her space.
"Are you kidding?" Tea rolled her eyes, putting the veil back the way it was angled before, making sure. "She'd laugh and laugh. Anyway - " Sheesh, just stay calm . . . why am I acting so flippy? It's not like I robbed a bank!
He smiled.
"I heard you laugh today," she finally said, noticing that he was in his groomsman suit, which was silver and a white tie. Wow. "And uh, it was the first time I heard you do that since I got back. It was a really nice thing to hear."
She smiled back, and he was stunned by her beauty. The lilac dress seemed to drape around on her body, and pool at her feet. He felt himself trying not to shift from foot to foot, and unsucceeding. Stay calm.
That's because you're thinking about that morning, when you touched your cheek, and swore you would never wash your face again, said a voice that was smiling. And you lied. And floated. And you two are just the right - for each other.
Like a physical magnet, he was drawn to her. The space lessened. "Tea - " He tried to make up the fact that his voice was choking by staring into her eyes. "I need to tell you something . . . imp - "
"And we're going back into the other room, Ches?" Mai said loudly, interrupting them. Tea looked alarmingly back, then hurried off. Yugi sighed, debating whether to go after her. But what was he to say?
To Be Continued.
-
-
-
A/N: Not my usual ending, I know. But, tah, I think they're mysterious. Yeah. Goin' for the mysterious factor, here. Anyhoo, Yugi, as all my other bishies, will confess in style. I always don't like when couples just come right out and say their feelings; I'd rather see them build up more. I mean, if they were to, wouldn't they have already! Well, I dun think so!
Next: Ishizu goes to talk to Kaiba. That should be interesssting. Duke plans the bachelor's party. Uh oh. I wasn't going to have one, but then again, I do like tests of fidelty! Tea involved. I wasn't going to make Duke like her, but I read it somewhere and I liked how he was portrayed, as a playboy. Serenity getting chased every day is my own originality, though. XD Uh . . . the rest you'll just have to wait and find out, nosy! Uh oh, my ma's mad because I've based Mrs. W on her . . . she's grounded me for two weeks:( Please review out of pity...