Chapter 5: Meeting the Family

A few weeks passed, and Yami and Joey had time off from college for spring break. "Want to go to my grandpa's house? I'd like you to meet my family." Yami asked, packing his things. "Unless you have other plans."

Joey sighed as Yami packed. He was lying on the bed, tossing a ball in the air. "No, I ain't got any plans." He muttered.

Yami noticed the change in Joey's mood and went over to Joey's bed. He frowned and caught the ball before Joey could. "What's wrong? You only get this way when something's wrong."

Joey looked away. "I don't have a place to go now that my dad's in jail."

Yami let out a breath in relief. "You want to come home with me for the break? My Gramps and brother have been wanting to meet you for a long time."

Joey looked up at him hopefully. "You'd be willing to let me meet your family?" he asked.

"Well, sure. Why not?" Yami asked, confused.

"Honestly, I wouldn't let you meet anyone but my mom and sister. You understand why." An unexpected laugh escaped Joey.

"You told me you had a sister. What's she like?" Yami asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"She's great. She's brave and smart and has a wicked sense of humor. My mom took her away when she escaped from my dad." Joey was excited when he spoke about his sister, but his uplifted mood disappeared when he spoke about the breakup of his family.

"Where does she live?" Yami asked, concerned.

"In town. I better go shower and pack if I'm going to your place." Joey got out of bed and headed for the shower.

Yami watched him leave the room and snatched Joey's cell phone. He scrolled through the contacts until he found the one he was looking for and dialed. When the person answered, he asked, "Serenity, this is a friend of your brother's. I have a favor to ask of you."

Grandpa and Yugi arrived the next morning to pick up Joey and Yami. They carried their bags out to the car and got in.

As Grandpa pulled away, Yami asked, "Can we make a stop somewhere, I have something to do."

"Sure. What's the address?" Grandpa asked.

Yami gave him the address and Joey's eyes widened as he recognized it. "We're going to my sister's house?" he asked, looking at Yami.

Yami smiled. "I thought it would be nice if you spent the break with her. And your mom said yes."

Joey hugged Yami tightly, tears springing to his eyes. "Thank you, Yami." He whispered.

"No problem. It's going to be cramped in here with three people back here." Yami pointed out.

"We can manage. I'd have her sit on my lap if it meant she came with us." Joey grinned happily.

Grandpa pulled up in front of an apartment building and a young woman a couple years younger than Joey stood on the stoop with a bag slung over her shoulder. Joey stepped out of the car and she ran to him, flinging herself into his arms. "Joey!" she cried, happily.

"Hey, 'Ren." Joey hugged her tightly. "It's been too long. Let me take your bag."

Serenity pulled back and handed him her bag, which weighed a ton. "Jeez, what did you pack, a ton of bricks?" he grumbled.

Serenity laughed. "You're just getting weak in your old age." She teased.

Yami noticed as she got into the back seat beside him that she had big blue eyes. "I'm Yami." He greeted, holding out his hand.

"Serenity Wheeler." She greeted, shaking his hand. "My brother has told me a lot about you. You're his boyfriend?"

Yami looked shocked. "He told you he's-"

Serenity giggled. "It was obvious when we were kids and he didn't mind playing tea party as much as you'd think he would. Especially with his little sister. Probably the reason our father beat him."

"Hey, no talk about that monster." Joey grumbled, getting into the car beside her. "We're going to have a great time, okay?"

Grandpa gave Yami a look in the rearview mirror and Yami gave him a silent signal to keep quiet. They talked about other things on the ride to Domino City.

"Here we are." Grandpa announced, pulling in front of a game shop. "Home sweet home."

"Wow, you live at a game shop?" Joey's eyes got huge.

"Yeah, Grandpa owns it. Where are our guests going to sleep?" Yami asked, glancing at Grandpa as they went inside the shop.

Grandpa thought a moment. "Well, I don't trust you two not to get a little too 'friendly' so I'll have you and Yugi bunk together and Joey and Serenity bunk together."

"That's fine. Serenity and I were used to sharing a room." Joey shrugged.

"Joey, you want to watch a movie together?" Yami asked, heading for the living room.

"Sure." Joey nodded, but stopped when Grandpa put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at him.

"Can I talk to you, son?" Grandpa asked, sounding serious.

"Uh, sure." Joey followed Grandpa into the game shop, noticing that Yami had rolled his eyes before going into the living room. "What do you want?"

"What are your intentions with my grandson?" Grandpa demanded, up front.

Joey was taken aback. "I care about him very much. I don't want to hurt him. I want to be with him as long as he'll have me."

Grandpa's face relaxed into a smile. "Good. Nice to meet you finally, Joey. You hungry?"

Joey blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

"You hungry? Yami said you have a voracious appetite."

"Yeah, I like to eat. Whatever you got is fine." Joey shrugged.

Grandpa headed into the kitchen and Joey followed. As Grandpa made him a grilled cheese sandwich, he asked, "So, you were abused when you were younger?"

"Until recently, I still was." Joey explained. "Your grandson saved me from my dad."

Grandpa grinned proudly. "That's my grandson. Standing up for those that need it."

"Yeah. I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. I mean my dad probably woulda killed me."

Grandpa nodded solemnly. "He will grow up to be a great man one day, I just know it. He could be anything he wants."

"I agree with you. I support anything he wants to do."

"Do you love him?" Grandpa asked, putting it out there in his usual manner.

Joey blinked again, startled. "Um…I haven't figured that out yet." He admitted sheepishly.

"As long as you make him happy, we won't have a problem, got it?" Grandpa shook the spatula at Joey.

Yami appeared in the doorway, a frown on his face. "Enough of the Spanish Inquisition, Grandpa. Can we go watch a movie?"

"Fine, go ahead. I'll bring out sandwiches for all of you when they're done." Grandpa promised.

"Thanks, Grandpa." Yami led Joey out of the room. "Sorry about that. He's very protective."

"He loves you. I don't blame him." Joey touched his arm.

Joey sat next to Serenity and Yami on the couch, while Yugi sat on the chair as they started a movie.

That night, Yami and Joey headed up to bed. "I wish we had a room to share." Yami murmured, giving Joey a kiss goodnight.

"We'll share a room when we get home." Joey promised. "It's not sexy here in your Grandpa's place anyway."

Yami grinned. "You have a good point there."

"Thank you for inviting my sister here. It was the best present you could have given me. I'll have a present for you when we return to college."

"Oh, I can't wait." Yami kissed him one more time and headed to his room.

"So what's been going on with you, Joey?" Serenity asked, as they relaxed around the game shop one afternoon a couple days later.

"Nothing much. I met Yami in college and he got dad arrested for abusing me." Joey shrugged.

Serenity gasped in surprise. "Dad's in jail?" she asked, eyes wide.

"Yeah, and I haven't felt more free in years." Joey smiled.

"Why didn't you tell me? I've been worried sick that he would find and hurt us!" Serenity exclaimed.

"Sorry, sis. I was just so relieved that he was put away." Joey looked ashamed.

Serenity sighed. "It's okay. You were more afraid of him than I was. You were actually physically abused."

"Yeah." Joey mumbled. "I took that for you, you know."

"I know, and I'm grateful." Serenity kissed his cheek. "Now let's go do something fun." She got up and led him out of the room.

Yami and Joey dueled finally and Yami beat him easily. "I told you I'm good." He grinned.

Joey gave him a kiss. "I let you win."

"Hardly. I beat you too easily." Yami countered.

"Yeah, you're right." Joey grinned.