Disclaimer: Journey Maker doesn't own Yugioh

Chapter Nine

Today Cassandra turns four and as she wakes up her daddy and grandpa are there to say "Happy Birthday, Cassandra" and she squealed and clapped her hands and she gets up and starts jumping up and down on her bed until Joey said "alright let's stop and go get some breakfast and today you get to ask grandpa to fix your favorite breakfast."

Cassandra got out of bed and started running down the hallway and as she reached the kitchen she said "come on, me want pancakes." Greg and Joey looked at each other and started laughing as they went to the kitchen. After they were done and the dishes were washed and dried and put away, Joey told his daughter "about how she was going to have her Birthday Party at the park and then he told her there will be some kids your age there too."

The ones that Joey had invited had all called and told him that they would be there. The guest list was: Yami, Yugi and Bakura, Ryou and they had adopted two little boys who were about six, Marik and Malik and they had adopted one little girl and she was a little diva according to Yugi she was five. Then Tristan and Tea married and they had two kids their daughter was the same age as Cassandra and their son was eight. Then Duke and his wife Gretchen and they had one little boy about eighteen months old and finally Valon and Mai and they had three kids and they were triplets, all boys who were seven.

Cassandra was so happy that she couldn't sit still till they were almost ready and as Greg started his car and with Cassandra buckled into her car seat and Joey up beside his dad, they drove to the Park where Seto, Mokuba and Roland were already there and Seto had already called and asked Joey "could I rent one of those bouncy houses and a tank with helium to blow up the balloons" and Joey thanked him and that's what they saw when Greg parked the car.

As they were getting out of the car the others were arriving and Joey was getting reacquainted with all his old friends and their children and they were getting to know Cassandra and Joey's dad. The kids saw the bouncy house and they all clapped their hands and with their parents they all went over and took turns jumping up and down. When Joey's friends noticed that Seto, Mokuba and Roland were there, they didn't make a scene in fact everyone had a great time watching their children having fun.

Greg and Roland started the bar-be-cue going and then they started cooking the hot dogs and hamburgers and as Tea and Mai helped put out the condiments and then Greg and Roland went to Greg's car and got out the two huge ice chests with the food that needed to be kept cold and when it was time to eat, Greg yelled "foods done" and you should of heard the kids yell and as they all got out of the bouncy house and their parents got them seated and started fixing their plates soon everyone was eating.

All the adults talked about how their lives had changes since they either had or adopted their children and that they wouldn't of changed it for nothing and Joey said "I have to agree. Cassandra has changed my life for the better and she brought me and my dad back together and I regained one of my dearest friends too." That's when he and Seto looked at each other and that's when all their friends knew that they were getting serious about each other.

After everyone had eaten, Greg brought over the cake and with Joey's help they lit the candles and everyone sang Happy Birthday to Cassandra and she blew out her candles and they each got a slice of cake and a scoop of ice cream.

Then it was time for the presents and as the kids each gave Cassandra her present, Joey handed them a gift bag with some little thing in them so that no one felt left out.

As she opened each gift with her daddy's help she would squeal and clap her hands and then with Joey whispering to her she would say "thank you" to who ever gave her the gift. She got toys, dolls, stuffed toys, games like Shoots and Ladders and Candyland and she loved all of her gifts and she went around and gave everyone a kiss and hug.

The day was such a great time for the kids and adults and as the kids went to play in the bouncy house with some of the adults watching them, Seto and Joey sat talking and Joey "thanked him for helping him give his daughter a Birthday that she'll never forget."

Seto touched his hand that was on his lap and he said "Joey, I want us to get to know each other better and that little girl of yours is a little angel and you're one of the best father's that I've ever met. That day you socked me for saying what I said, well it woke me up to exactly what kind of a bastard I had become and I knew that I couldn't lose you a second time and if it weren't for that brother of mine, well we might not be sitting here talking."

It was getting late and one by one each family gathered their children, thanked Joey for inviting them and again told Cassandra happy birthday, kissed and hugged everyone and they all left leaving only Joey, Greg, Cassandra, Seto, Mokie and Roland to get things cleaned up and Seto called the Company "to come get the bouncy house and take the tank that was now empty and he gave them a bonus for making this day so very special for a very special little angel."

Then Roland helped Greg get the ice chests into the trunk of Greg's car and Greg said "looks like our sons just might be getting together someday." Roland smiled and said "I guess you're going to be alright with it?" Greg said "hell yes I am, I don't ever want to lose my son or granddaughter ever again."

Soon Cassandra was wiping her eyes and yawning and Joey laughed and as he picked her up he said "someone is really tired from all the fun she had today." Then they all walked to their cars and as Joey thanked them for coming, Greg opened the back door and Joey sat his daughter in her car seat and buckled her in then he waved good bye to Seto and them and got into the car and Greg drove them home.

Joey got out and undid his daughter and when Greg unlocked the door, Joey carried her to their room and took off her shoes and laughed again when he dumped out all the sand, kissed her and went to help his dad get everything from the car. Then they sat down at the kitchen table drank some ice tea and Joey said "thanks for helping me with this party, for being here for us and for being one hell of an understanding father, I love you dad." Greg thanked his son and then he said "I love you son and that little angel too, "she had one really great time didn't she?"

Please R&R...

Chapter Ten Coming Up...