"It's never nice to lose someone close to you; unfortunately, life goes on, and we have to make peace with it and move on." -Francois Hougaard

Author's Note: Please Review! Most of this chapter is directly from the show.

The drive to Professor Hawkins laboratory seemed particularly long and arduous to Cecelia, but perhaps that was because she didn't have Maximillion to capture her attention. She looked down at his body in her lap and placed his hand on her stomach, wondering about their baby. She brushed a lock of hair away from his face and wondered (albeit morbidly) if he would be back in her arms Before she had this baby. She prayed with all her might that he would be.

When the limo finally slowed to a stop, Cecelia looked out the window. It was nightfall and there was a building burned to rubble and a small trailer near the wreckage. Croquet helped her get out of the car, and she stood up and walked over to where the rest of them were standing.

"You sure this is the place?" Asked Joey.

"Professor Hawkins! Rebecca!" Called Yugi.

"Yugi..." Said a blonde haired girl in a sad voice.

"Rebecca! What happened here?" He asked.

"Yugi... They took him... My poor grandpa!" She wailed, burying her face in his chest. "It's not fair! He didn't hurt anyone!"

"We're gonna find him. I promise."

"Thank you." She said weakly. "Who would do something like this?!"

"I still don't get it," said Tèa, taking a whistling tea kettle off of the stovetop, "who would kidnap the professor?"

"It had to be Dartz! Or his gang of thugs, anyway." Said Joey.

"Why? I mean the guy's just an archeologist." Tristan commented.

"But didn't you guys say he made some big discovery?" Asked Duke.

"Yeah. He found Atlantis." Said Yugi. "Rebecca, I've got an idea."

"What?"

"Remember that stone? The one I gave to your grandpa?"

"Yeah. I have it around my neck right here. Gramps told me to hang on to it."

"Maybe that's what Dartz and his lackeys are after." Said Tristan.

"Then be careful." Rebecca warned.

"Okay. So now what?" Asked Tèa.

"Easy. We find out where this Dartz guy hangs out, we bust in and get Hawkins." Said Duke.

"But how? I don't think they're listed in the phone book!" Rebecca countered.

"She's right. Besides, he doesn't have what they want. Which means they'll probably come back." Said Yugi.

"Great. So we just sit on our butts and wait?!" Asked Joey.

"I like my plan." Murmured Duke.

"If we're gonna stay here, I gotta eat. I can't wait on an empty stomach, you know." Said Tristan.

"Good idea! I'll whip something up!" Joey volunteered.

"I'm not eating anything you cook!" Joked Tèa.

"Don't worry. They're going to bring back your grandpa soon, Rebecca." Said Yugi.

In the end, Duke and Tèa ended up making dinner for everyone. Everyone except Weevil and Rex who were busy looking for rare cards through the wreckage of Professor Hawkins laboratory.

Cecelia sat with her plate in front of her. The food smelled delicious and she hadn't eaten in two days, but all she could do was pick at it with her fork. The emptiness in her heart outweighed the hunger in her stomach. Tèa put a hand on her shoulder.

"You need to eat." She said quietly.

Cecelia sighed. "I know. But I can't. Not without knowing. It's silly, my own peace of mind, I know. But nothing will be right again until Maximillion is back with me."

They were all quiet. Tèa spoke again. "You're pregnant, aren't you?" She said, remembering the song she sang earlier. A tiny smile crept onto her face.

"Yes, I am."

"You need to eat and stay healthy for your baby. Isn't that what Peg- er, Maximillion would want?"

"Yes. You're right. Thank you." She said, finally eating.

A little later, Yugi and Rebecca came out of the trailer and were within earshot of Weevil and Rex, still diggings or cards.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Asked Yugi. Rebecca looked at him sadly.

"I'm just scared, Yugi. This whole thing is so strange."

"I know. But we'll find your gramps."

Rebecca shook her head. "Mm-mm. There's more." She said, handing him a duel monsters card.

"What's this?" Asked Yugi.

"The creeps who kidnapped my grandfather left it behind. It came with a note."

I'll be waiting for you in Death Valley. You'll show up if you want to see your friend again. -Rafael

"Oh no! How far away is Death Valley?"

"Well if we use Duke's car it shouldn't take us more than an hour or so."

"Sorry Rebecca, but I have to go alone."

"Why?"

"I've put you and your family in enough danger already."

"Uh-uh. Don't be silly, Yugi. None of this is your fault at all."

"Thanks Rebecca. But it's me they want and you'll be much safer here. And please don't tell the other guys where I'm about to go, okay?"

"But why?"

"I don't want them to follow me there."

The night went by and everyone went to bed, barely finding enough places to sleep. It was then that Yugi made his escape.

"Yugi." Whispered A voice.

"Don't worry Rebecca, I'll be back." He promised, and rode out to Death Valley.

Rebecca was wide awake with worry for Yugi when Joey awoke.

"Can't sleep either, huh?" He asked. She shook her head. That's when he noticed an empty chair. "Hey, where's Yug?"

"Uh, I promised I wouldn't tell." She said, meekly.

"Rebecca! How could you just let him leave like that?!" He Cried.

"Take it easy, Joey. It's not her fault." Said Tèa, comforting the girl. "You guys would have done the same thing."

"No, we would have talked some sense into him, Tèa." Said Tristan.

"I'm coming, Yug!" Said Joey, running outside.

"Oh no..." Murmured Tèa.

"Come on, get back here!" Tristan called after him. But Joey stopped dead in his tracks. "Hey man, what's wrong?"

Joey pointed to a figure coming toward them, doubled over and limping.

"Professor Hawkins!" Cried Tristan. Joey ran over and caught him before he fell to the ground.

"My grandpa!" Cried Rebecca, running over to him and hugging him tightly.

"Rebecca, where is Yugi?" He asked. They all helped him inside and laid him in bed where Rebecca sat beside him.

"I'm glad you're back, gramps." She whispered.

Meanwhile, the boys were loaded up in Duke's car.

"Alright, Tèa we'll find Yugi. You and Cecelia hold down the fort till we get back."

"Okay. Just be careful guys." She said.

"We'll be back soon." Said Joey.

"Keep an eye out for Rex and Weevil. I don't trust those two." Said Tristan and they were off into the night.

Little did they know, the two had taken off to watch Yugi's duel with their own eyes.