They got the apartment building with no problems. Yugi, of course, helped Joey up to the apartment that Yugi rented. Yugi carefully laid Joey down on the couch, allowing he to rest on the couch, for the time being. Yugi was going to go to the other room to just let Joey be for a while, until another thought came to his mind. Quickly, Yugi went and got his wastebasket. After lining it with a plastic bag, he placed it beside Joey, just incase Joey needed it.

Yugi knew that it would be best if he just let Joey sleep. He didn't know that much about what to do with drunk people, never having to take care of one before. However, he knew that they could usually sleep it off, that's what happened in movies. He was, however, afraid of what might happen if he left Joey alone all day. What if Joey needed him or Joey's condition got worse? He would have no way of knowing if he left the house. So, Yugi, with a small ounce of regret, called up his class instructors explaining that an emergency had come up and he wouldn't be able to make it to classes. They all understood, and happily offered to let him come in later in the week to make up the class he missed. Yugi didn't really want to do that either, but Joey had helped him more times than Yugi knew, so Yugi figured this was the least he could do. After all, Joey would do the same for Yugi if this ever came up.

Yugi didn't know what to do, really. He had never taken care of someone who was drunk, like Joey. He had never run into this problem with Grandpa or any of his other friends. Tristan and Tea never drank, duke never had a desire to, and Kaiba, well, he may have drank, but he would never ask for Yugi's help. And Grandpa never got drunk. Oh, sure, Grandpa said that he had taken care of some people who had gotten sick because of drinking, but he had never been one. Wait, maybe he would know. Yeah, he did say that he had tended to drunk people before. So, if he had done that before, then he would know what to do, right?

Yugi went to the phone again. He picked it up and looked at it. It was shaking. He realized that his hand was shaking, but he didn't know why. Maybe because the reality of the situation was finally catching up to him. He knew that Joey would probably be okay, but he couldn't be sure. And what if Grandpa didn't remember what to do? Despite his doubts, he found the courage to dial his grandpa's number.

"Kame Game Shop, this is Solomon speaking," Grandpa's voice flooded over the line in his tone an official one that he only used for customers.

"Hey Grampa, it's me, Yugi," Yugi greeted warmly, smiling on the other line at hearing his Grandpa's voice again.

"Yugi, my boy, how are you?" Solomon's business-like tone left his words and Yugi could see, in his mind, Grandpa's eyes twinkle.

"I'm alright, but I have a question," Yugi stated, a little unsure about himself.

"Oh? Well then, by all means ask it," Grampa warmly welcomed the question.

"Okay, uh, hypothetically speaking, let's say you found someone on the road, drunk," Yugi said, attempting to hide his true intentions. "And let's say that he was your friend and so you decide to take care of him. What do you do?"

Yugi could see Grampa smiling on the other line as he replied, "Well, if it's not very severe, just let him sleep it off. I'm sure Joey will be fine by tomorrow."

Yugi cringed a little at hearing the name of his friend. He had hoped to keep Joey's name out of this. He didn't want to ruin Joey's reputation with Grandpa. Grandpa had been one of the few people who had believed in Joey. He had confidence in him, and Yugi didn't want to shatter that. But Yugi also knew that his grandfather was smarter than that. His grandfather also knew of Joey's alcohol addtiction. It's not like it was a big secret, as much as Joey would like it to be. Everyone knew about it, and pretty much everyone dealt with it, everyone but Joey.

Letting out a sigh, Yugi told his grandpa, "Thanks."

"You're very welcome Yugi," Grandpa said affectionately to his grandson.

Yugi sighed again. Why was it that he couldn't help Joey. He couldn't do anything but let Joey sleep, and it made him feel really bad.

Grandpa could almost feel his grandson's distress, and he told Yugi in a soft tone, "Yugi, you may be able to save the world when you need to, but you can't change what happens to the people in it. However, I believe that this will all work out one way or another."

"Yeah, thanks Grandpa, talk to you later," Yugi said, a little depression still audible in his voice.

"Yes, talk to you later, and keep your chin up," Grandpa stated in closing, and then the line went dead.

Then he hung up the phone and turned towards Joey. He was asleep on the couch, unaware of the trouble he had caused. Yugi feared that he did something stupid while drunk. It wasn't uncommon for him to be a hothead. And that may have caused him to do something. He couldn't be sure though. Nonetheless, it seemed that things between him and Mai were damaged, if not over. Joey could pull himself out of this, but it would take a whole bunch of work.

The day went by without a hitch. Joey slept most of the day, and only got sick a couple of times, and by the evening times, he was just fine, and went home soon after dark. When he got home, he collapsed on the couch.

He was so depressed. He just couldn't get last night out of his head. Every time he closed his eyes, every time he even sat down to rest, it replayed itself. How he had gotten down on one knee. How he had held out the box. How he had asked her. How she had turned him down. How she looked at him in disbelief. How she had said that she wouldn't until he had fixed his problem. How he had made himself look like a fool. How he had felt after. How he was so depressed, he went to a bar to forget. He couldn't really remember anything much after that. But all the things he could remember kept haunting him.

Joey threw his head back. Why should he go on? There was no purpose for him now. The one he loved was out of his reach, thanks to something he had no control over.

He was drowning in his own thoughts when the ring of the phone saved him. With a sigh, he picked it up.

"Yo," Joey answered.

"Hey Joey, it's Tristan," the man on the other end stated, though it wasn't as friendly as usual.

"Hey Tristan, my man, what's up?" Joey asked, a little confused at his friend's sternness.

"You, that's what," Tristan grumbled gruffly.

"What'd ya mean?" Joey asked, confused even more.

"Your little 'rumble' with the police this morning is all over the news man, don't tell me you don't know," Tristan stated, a little shocked at the thought that Joey could forget.

"No, I don't. I've been at Yugi's all day, though I don't recall how I got there," Joey told Tristan, scratching his head. "I just got home."

"So…I bet you don't remember the fight either," Tristan concluded a little crossly.

"Well, uh, no," Joey confessed sheepishly, hanging his head.

"Joey, you better do something before you destroy yourself," Tristan warned.

"It's not that bad," Joey protested.

"Not that bad! Joey, the police almost had to tazer you! You were out of control!" Tristan stated forcefully, not believing Joey's denial. "Joey, you nearly killed an officer! You were drunk. You have to do something to control this."

"I can control it on my own," Joey growled.

"Get counciling," Tristan suggested.

"What am I supposed to do Tristan? I can't afford a quack," Joey stated.

"You can, you just don't want to go to one," Tristan bluntly noted.

"Joey, Mai'll never take your name if you act like this all the time! And what about if she wants a family? Huh? Ever think of that? She'll never allow you near the children if you act like this," Tristan countered.

"Tristan, what am I supposed to do? Huh? Tell me that? What? Go out to the orphanage and adopt a little kid for a while until Mai takes me back?" Joey argued in anger.

There was silence as Tristan thought. Joey's heart plummeted as he realized what he had just said. He could almost see Tristan's eyes light up. He hoped that Tristan wouldn't take him seriously.

"Joey…that's not a bad idea at all," Tristan stated, just as Joey had dreaded.

"Tristan, you can't be serious, I'm not ready for fatherhood, even if it is only temporary," Joey shook his head furiously. "I was only kidding."

"Joey, it's the only thing we got," Tristan stated. "Besides, it's a good idea. It'll show Mai that you're ready for a family. How bad could it be anyways?"

"How bad could it be?" Joey grumbled. "Tristan…I.."

"Come on Joey, you know you want Mai," Tristan coaxed. "This is the only way to redeem yourself."

Joey hung his head in defeat. He knew that Tristan was right. If he continued to live the way he was, he would never get anywhere. He would just be "Joey, the fighting drunken idiot." That's not what he wanted. What he wanted was Mai. He wanted Mai to be his wife. He wanted a family with her. He knew what he had to do, whether he was ready for it or not. As Tristan pointed out, it was the only thing they had.

"Alright Tristan, you win," Joey sighed, defeatedly. "I'll go to the orphanage tomorrow."

"You want me to meet you there?" Tristan inquired.

"No. if I'm gonna do this, I gotta do it on my own," Joey grumbled. "But thanks anyways."

"Alright, talk to you later man," Tristan stated and hung up the phone.

Joey just pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it, letting the dial tone ring into the air. What had he gotten himself into? And why was he actually agreeing to this? What was he actually agreeing to?

Then, the memory came back. Mai, that's who he was doing it for. And if he didn't do anything, he may loose her, forever.