Dedications: This chapter is dedicated to my Mum for what she is going through with my Nan. She will be upset at first but will stay strong, just like Tèa does. I also dedicate this to Steph, Maria, Stacy and Shelley for being there for me and although each of my friends does not have a specific character in the story, they are all represented by Tea's friends throughout for obvious reasons!

Now enough of all my soppy stuff, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the characters involved in this chapter (although I wish I did!) and please do not take any offence to actions taken or done to/by the characters (blah blah blah!)

One Door Closes, Another Opens.

Gone

Tèa Gardener sat at the side of her Mother's bed, crying, in her home in Domino, Tokyo. Heather Gardener lay there feeling weak and tiered. She looked at her daughter with half open eyes who just sat there, silently by her side. She was covered in a hot sweat and knew the end was nearing. She felt she was unable to breathe, let alone move and all she wanted to do was hold Tèa tight and tell her she loved her. She had nothing in life she really cared about. Just her daughter who she loved dearly and knew she loved her just as equally.

Okay, this is it, be strong Heather, come on Ms. Gardener thought.

Okay, this is it, be strong Mum, come on Tèa told herself.

Whilst she lay there, Heathers mind flashed with images of her late Husband and her Daughter growing into the young lady that sat beside her. The scenes of Tèa and her Father playing games in the garden on the year he died. If only he would have admitted he was ill. If only they had got to it sooner they would have saved him and now Heather wouldn't be leaving her Daughter all alone. She was disturbed from her thoughts as Tèa grabbed her hands tightly and squeezed them to try and hold back her tears.

"I love you Tèa" She managed to mumble, her voice was quiet, croaky and weak. That was it. It was time. Heather knew it would be okay to give up now. She had managed to say what she had to and she closed her eyes.

"I love you too, Mum" Tèa sobbed as she stopped holding bad and let the stream of tears fall down her pale face.

Yugi put his arm around her for some comfort as her Mum slipped away in her own bed and own room. That was what she and Tèa had wanted, not for her to be in some hospital bed that thousands had been in before. They watched as Heather Gardener took her last breath and quietly slipped away. Tèa broke down into tears, holding on tight to Yugi's shirt.

"Mum!" She cried.

"Come on" Tristan said as he tried to direct her out of the room. He thought she wouldn't want to be there with her Mum but he couldn't have been more wrong.

"NO!" She yelled. Her arms threw at him stopping him from even standing her up. She stayed sitting down but her arms still only slightly missed Tristan, it was lucky he moved as she tried to hit him with such force due to her mixed feelings of anger and sadness.

"Whoa" Joey exclaimed.

"Im sorry, Tristan" Tèa murmured, her head hanging low.

"It's okay, just…" Tristan started. He looked at his friends.

"We should go" Joey finished for him. He walked out and Tristan soon followed. Yugi got up to leave but Tèa looked at him without getting up from her seat.

"Don't go Yugi" She pleaded.

"We wont, we'll wait in the living room for you until your ready…" He kissed Tèa's forehead and made his way out. He stopped at the door.

"I think I should call an ambulance" He said cautiously. Tèa nodded her head slightly in agreement. No matter how much she wanted it she knew her Mum couldn't stay there forever. The hospital would sort out everything needed and she would get the extra support off them. Yugi took one last glance and the back of Tèa's shaking form and joined Tristan and Joey in the living room.

…..

Tèa put her head on the bed, still holding her Mums hands, gripping them tightly. She didn't want to let them or her go. Her heart felt heavy, her vision blurred and life dull. Already, she felt something was missing. A great black hole homing itself in her heart. She shut her eyes and concentrated.

I'll miss you so much Mum! She sobbed. Tèa Gardener knew her life would never be the same again and she didn't like the thought of it. She knew that it sounded selfish but one of the things she felt most scared about was being on her own. Her Mums greatest fear was to see a family member suffer over her and if she could see the state Tèa was in she knew her Mum would hate it but how on earth could she not cry. Not feel upset. Just bottle her feelings up like that?

…..

"You think she'll be okay, up there on her own I mean?" Joey asked Tristan and Yugi who nodded in reply.

"She wants to be alone with her Mum, but not alone." Yugi paused. "She wants us to stay for a while." He finished.

They sat in silence until Yugi got up, his face pale with worry for Tèa.

"Im going to check on her" He said flatly and he left Joey and Tristan alone on the living room. He entered Mrs. Gardener's room and saw Tèa's head resting against her Mother's, her sleeping form moving with raged breaths.

She'd cried herself to sleep He thought. He lifted her limp body slightly, waking her up. He smiled at her and she weakly smiled back but inside Yugi knew, inside, she was still crying.

"You tiered?" He asked her.

"Mmm Hmm" She nodded, her mouth was dry and that was all she could manage. Her head was buzzing and she could feel a headache forming. She let go of her Mums hands and Yugi helped her up.

"Bye Mum" She whispered as she took one last look at her Mothers body.

Tristan and Joey helped Yugi get Tèa into bed and they got her a drink. She soon fell to sleep so they left her. Tristan called an ambulance. They didn't like the idea of Tèa being alone in the house with Mrs. Gardener…like that. They waited until it came hoping that Tea wouldn't wake up. It would only make her worse to see her Mum being taken away. When the paramedics had come and gone Yugi write a note for Tèa.

Tèa,

We went shortly after you fell to sleep. We hope having a good rest will help a little. Me Tristan Joey and Ryou are gonna come in the morning to see if your going to come to school. No one will be surprised if you don't so don't feel you have to. We called an ambulance and they have sorted things out. Please take care.

Love Yugi, Tristan and Joey xxxxx

……

A few hours later, when Tèa woke up, she read the note Yugi and the guys had left her and smiled weakly. Her stomach made a loud growling noise and reminded her she hadn't eaten in a while. She sighed. Tèa had been through so much and really didn't feel like eating but knew that if she didn't it wouldn't help her in the slightest.

She looked at the clock on her bedside table. 9:31pm it read. She remembered it was Sunday and had school tomorrow. As she looked around her room her eyes caught sight of the note again.

"They care about me so much" She told herself. She decided to get herself some food because her empty stomach was starting to irritate her. As she walked down the hall she passed her Mothers room. Immediately, cold swept through her body and she felt a huge black hole form in her heart and once again her eyes filled with tears. She straightened herself out and wiped her eyes. She knew she had to be strong for everyone's sake. Her stomach made a growling noise again.

Okay! Okay! She whined and left the hall to enter the kitchen and give in to her stomachs complaints.

…..

Yugi sat in his room, Pharaoh's spirit next to him on the bed.

"What's up?" The spirit asked.

"I dunno, it's just today…when we were with Tèa, I felt something for her but I don't know what. It wasn't like normal. It's the wrong time and unfair for me to feel anything but friendship for her right now, what shall I do Pharaoh?" Yugi replied quietly.

"Yugi, I only give you advice, you do not have to do anything I tell you or trust in everything I say but do you know how you feel? I agree that you shouldn't say anything at this moment in time but I would advise you to say nothing even when her trauma has faded, unless you are certain about her feelings. The last thing Tèa needs is to have her heart broken." And with that he returned to his puzzle. Yugi sat there, alone, thinking about how he felt and what the Pharaoh had said to him.

Your right he thought. But now his thoughts strayed to Tèa's situation. She needed her friends more than anything right now and Tèa knew just as much as Yugi did that they would all be there for her, but he felt terrible. Tomorrow night he would be leaving for a one week holiday to Egypt.

I hope she doesn't feel im deserting her, I wish I wasn't leaving so soon, after all she's gone through I feel guilty, but the guys will take care of her, im sure!

…..

Tristan unpacked his bags. Just two nights previously he had returned back to his Mums after living with his Dad. Every few months he would swap, from Mum to Dad. It could be a little inconvenient at times but his parents didn't live very far apart. Where ever he was living he was still able to attend the same school and hang out with Yugi, Joey and the guys. He looked at his phone then thought of Tea. He didn't want to risk disturbing her or waking her up by calling or texting her so he text Joey instead.

Hey Joey, WUU2? I hope Tèas okay! If she cums 2 school tomorrow do u think we will all feel a little uncomfortable? Well that is if she duz cum, I wouldn't blame her if she didn't! I think we should try cheer her up a bit, maybe go out 2 eat or summat? And by all of us that's including Duke and Serenity and Ryou if he's not too busy. TB

Joey's phone beeped. He read the text message he had just received off Tristan and replied.

Hi, yh me 2, I recon she will cum 2 school coz it's not like her not 2. Yh I think goin out 2 eat is a good idea. Maybe it'll mek her feel betta u no? I think Ryou mentioned he was goin out wid his Dad but we'll ask him neway. Sorry but dnt txt bak, im gna go to bed, im knackered! Nite.

Bu he couldn't sleep. No matter how much he tried his mind wouldn't rest. Serenity was still out and even though it was still only 9:45pm and she wasn't due back till ten he was worried. He had always been so over protective of his little sister and would blame himself if anything ever happened to her. But then he reassured himself. He knew she was in safe hands. He may have been angry when he first found out Duke Devlin and Serenity were dating but now knew he would take care of her. He just wanted to hear her come in, come home. Just then, he heard the front door open.

"Bye Duke" Serenity's sweet voice shouted to her boyfriend. Joey heard a faint goodbye come from Duke before the door shut. His mind suddenly felt at rest and he fell to sleep.

…..

Early the next morning Tèa woke up before her alarm clock went off. She remembered what Yugi and the guys had said to her in the note they left the previous day.

'Me Tristan Joey and Ryou are gonna come in the morning to see if your going to come to school.'

She really didn't want to face them first thing and so decided to text one of them, Joey was the first one she came to in her phone book.

Hi Joey, u dnt hav 2 cum 4 me I am cumin bu I wud prefer to meet u guys like normal plz, thnx

The message was short but got her point across. She wanted to reach normality sooner rather than later and knew this would be a start. She turned off her alarm clock before it had chance to go off and scare the wits out of her. She dragged herself out of bed. Of course she knew that no one would mind if she didn't come to school, but that wouldn't help her, she didn't want to be alone and so got dressed and left her bedroom. Her mind seemed blank. Nothing at all was goin through her mind apart from the shire pain she felt after losing her Mum. She wished she really could get back to normality straight away but knew she couldn't.

At 8:00am Tèa left the house, meeting Ryou at the top of her street. He had been told what happened via Tristan the night before but thought it best not to bring it up.

Poor girl, she looks awful. She really needs us now, all of us. I just hope she knows we are here for her and can tell us if she needs help. I know that she can be stubborn at times but this really isn't the time.

Tèa's appearance and attitude were all give always to anyone that she was upset and had been crying. Her eyes were red and bloodshot and she didn't speak at all. This was very different from the sweet, happy go lucky, bubbly Tèa, Ryou had always known.

"How you feeling?" He asked. Stupid question! His head yelled at him. Obviously Tèa realized this too but knew he was just trying to make a conversation. However much she wanted to reply, she couldn't. Her mouth was still to dry so she just lowered her head and sighed. This was a signal to Ryou that the answer to his question was 'not good'.

"Come on" He said as he put his arm around her shoulder and lead her to meet the rest of the 'gang'.

…..

Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Duke and Serenity rounded the corner. Their greetings were a little awkward but it made Tèa feel a little better knowing they cared. The Seven of them walked slowly to school but stopped at the local shop next to the road.

"Were gonna pop in" Duke said. He entered the off licence, Serenity following behind him.

Tèa and the four remaining boys sat on the near by wall waiting for the couple to exit the shop. Tèa was staring, unknowingly, at the traffic lights changing from green to amber to red. A black limo halted in front of them. The group didn't pay much attention to it but someone inside the limo saw them.

Mokuba noticed the boys first. His window was slightly open and he could hear them trying to cheer someone up-Tèa. She was very quiet compared to usual and her tired eyes and pale face gave away that something was wrong.

Seto Kaiba, Mokuba's elder brother, saw his sibling staring. He too noticed Tèa's behavior but only looked briefly before whipping his eyes away from his rivals group of friends.

"What's up Mokuba?"

"Nothing big brother…" He trailed off quietly still trying to listen.

"Tèa, guys, you wanna go out tonight? I thought we could go eat or something. You never know Tèa, might cheer you up a bit." Joey said, a little scared she may think he was trying to get her to forget about her Mum.

"Yeah, sounds great" She smiled a little and for a few seconds the happy sparkle that once lived in her eyes could be seen.

"Great! And I heard the wheatsheif is really nice, we'll go there!"

And that was when he decided. Mokuba knew something was wrong with Tèa and wanted to know what it was.

"Big brother?" He spoke quietly but questioningly as the traffic lights changed back to green and they drove away.

"Yes Mokuba?" He looked down at his younger brother.

"We never really go out anywhere and I was wondering if we could go out to eat tonight. Please?"

"What bought this on?"

"I dunno, it just dawned on me, really. We could go to the Wheatsheif, I heard…parents at school talk about it" He had to make up the fact that he had heard parents talking about it. Seto defiantly wouldn't go if he knew Yugi and the gang would be there.

"Errr… yeah sure." He eventually replied, a little confused with his brother.

Mokuba was dropped off at school and shortly after Seto arrived at his school, early as usual.

…..

A few minuets later Yugi, Tristan, Joey Ryou and Tèa walked through the gates followed by Duke who was giving Serenity a small 'goodbye' kiss before she went to her school. Seto made a noise similar to a grunt.

I see the geek squad are here.

But then he noticed Tèa. She had been crying again. He seemed to be mesmerized by her.

Her eyes he thought there so beauti- he shook away his thought of Tèa's bright blue watery eyes.

What the hell?

The day passed slowly and Tèa didn't speak at all. Everyone noticed but only the select few knew why. Seto wasn't one of those few. He tried to keep his distance from them like normal but kept bumping into Tèa, quite literally sometimes, but she never gave eye contact. Last lesson eventually came and Seto sat a few seats away from Tèa and her friends.

"You feeling any better?" Tristan asked her.

"…A little, thanks." She whispered, tears chocking her throat.

Beep Beep Beep

The defining sound of the school bell sounded, signaling the end of the school day.

"At last" Seto said to himself, his star cold as he scanned the class. What for he wasn't sure. As he left the room Tèa didn't stop looking in the direction even after he had gone.

What or who was he looking for? She wondered.

For the first time in over twenty four hours, something other than her Mother was on her mind.

Why am I thinking about him? She asked herself, still staring.

Why am I thinking about her? Seto thought as he climbed into his limo.

……….

Yey I dun my first chapter, apart from my prologue of course! If you don't like this then please read on. I know you don't find out what happens in the park yet but don't worry you will find out soon! Oh and pleeease review:D thnx.