Thanks so much for all your wonderful reviews. I can't believe how many I've gotten so far. Also I apologize for it being late.

Chapter 15

It had been two weeks since Yugi was raped. Yami was beginning to become worried. Yugi wasn't eating, he barely slept and he was pulling away, and Yami was getting the feeling that Yugi was experiencing PTSD. Yami headed home from work that Friday before Christmas thinking this would be their first Christmas as a couple. As he parked the car in front of his house he could hear Takara crying on the inside and he wondered where Yugi was.

"Yugi?" he called as he entered the house.

He got no answer but found Takara wailing in her high chair and Yugi on the floor with his back against the cabinet crying. Yami sighed. He walked over to Takara's chair and took her out.

"Shh, Taki, Daddy's here. Shh, don't cry," he said as he rocked her and walked her into the living room.

He placed her on the carpet and went into the nursery and grabbed some of her toys and gave them to her. Takara giggled and played. While Takara was playing with her toys, Yami headed back into the kitchen and headed over to Yugi and pulled him in his arms.

"Shh, baby, it's okay. I'm here."

"Yami? Why are you here?"

"Whaddya mean?"

"I mean why are you holding me? Why am I still here? Why haven't you thrown me out yet?"

"Whoa, what? Yugi, what are you talking about?"

"You don't want me anymore," Yugi cried.

"What?" Yami frowned, "Baby, I'm gonna always want you."

Yugi shook his head, "No. I'm used and dirty. You don't want me."

Yami sighed and rocked Yugi, "Baby, that's not true. I love you. No matter what. What happened wasn't your fault and it doesn't mean you're dirty or used."

"Promise?"

"I promise, I'm never gonna leave you."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, baby," Yami said as Takara crawled into the kitchen.

Yugi grinned, "Hey, sweetie, missed us?" he said picking her up.

"She's getting big. I wouldn't be surprised if she started talking soon," Yami grinned.

"You gonna talk, Taki, huh? You gonna say Papa and Daddy?" Yugi giggled standing up with Taki in his arms. "Yami?"

"Yeah?"

"That doesn't bother you, does it?"

"What?"

"Taki calling you daddy?"

Yami shook his head, "No, babe."

Yugi nodded, "Okay, why don't you take a shower and I'll start dinner."

"I have a better idea. Let's go out."

"Okay."

Later that evening Yugi strapped Takara in her car seat as Yami was locking the door. Yugi smiled at Takara and placed a kiss on her forehead. As Yami came down the stairs, Yugi got in the passenger seat and Yami slid behind the wheel.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Yugi just sighed, but sat back and enjoyed the ride. It wasn't that long of a drive and Yami pulled up and parked the car in front of the restaurant. Yugi looked at Yami.

"Here?"

Yami nodded.

"Yami, isn't this place expensive?"

"Not really."

"Yami…"

"Don't worry about it, baby. Let's go."

Yugi shook his head but got out of the car and opened the back door and unhooked Takara. Yami draped his arm around Yugi's shoulders as they walked in the restaurant. The hostess smiled at them.

"Good evening, three?"

"Just two, she's not eating," Yugi said.

The hostess nodded, "Right, sorry. Follow me."

Yugi and Yami followed her to a table that was towards the back of the restaurant, "Will you be needing a high chair?"

"No thank you."

"Well you're waitress should be along shortly."

"Thank you."

The hostess nodded and left. Yugi sat down and placed Takara so she was sitting comfortably on his lap. Yami sat across from him.

"Order whatever you want, I'm buying."

A woman wearing a pair of black slacks and a sleeveless white top approached them, "Good evening, my name's Kara and I'll be you're waitress. Are you boys ready to order or would like a little more time?" she asked eyeing Yami.

Yugi noticed how their waitress was all but salivating over his boyfriend. Yugi was never a jealous person, but seeing how that waitress wouldn't stop staring, it made him mad.

"No, I think we're ready, right babe?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'm gonna go with the grilled chicken plate and a Pepsi. What do you want, babe?"

"I think I'll have the same. Oh and a diet coke, please."

Kara looked flustered and embarrassed, "O-of course," she said and walked away.

"Serves her right," Yugi mumbled.

"What's wrong, baby?"

"The waitress was practically salivating over you. I didn't like it."

Yami chuckled, "Don't worry, baby. I'm all yours."

"It better stay that way. Right, Taki?" Yugi cooed tickling his daughter's stomach making her laugh.

"Yami, is that you?"

Yami turned and saw his boss coming over. He sighed.

"I thought I noticed you over there. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Kaiba. Trying to enjoy an evening with my boyfriend."

"Ah, yes, Yugi. How do you do? I've heard so much about you. And this is your daughter?"

"Uh, yes. It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Kaiba."

"Seto, are we leaving yet? I kinda had something special for to-oh, hey, Yugi."

"Joey?"

"Joey, you know them?"

Joey wasn't paying attention. He was staring at Takara. What caught his attention was her hair. Yugi saw him staring and put a protective hold on her. This angered Joey.

"How could you do that, Yugi? You can clearly see that she's mine. There's no way you can keep me from her. That's my daughter."

"Pup?" Seto questioned.

"Yami won't pull it off as her daddy. You know he's gonna get tired of you soon. You're just a fling for him, and what about when she grows older and wonders why she doesn't look like her parents, huh, what're you gonna tell her?"

Takara put her fist in her mouth and stared at her papa. Yugi smiled and kissed her cheek. Yami looked at Joey, "Wheeler we're in a restaurant. I suggest you leave."

"I'd like to know what's going on," Seto said.

Yami sighed, "Let's take this outside before someone calls the cops."

"But, Yami…"

"It's okay, babe. I'm gonna have them bag it up and we'll eat at home."

Yugi got angry, "I can't believe you! It's Christmas Eve and here I was having a nice enjoyable evening with my boyfriend and my daughter and you just had to ruin it, didn't you Joey?" Yugi yelled stalking out the restaurant with Takara in his arms.

"Mr. Kaiba, I suggest you take your boyfriend outside," Yami said as he asked the waitress to bag everything and he'll still pay for it.

Everyone went outside. Yugi was leaning against the car rocking Takara and talking to her. He looked up as everyone exited the restaurant.

"Wheeler you are unbeliev-"

"Yami, don't."

"What's the matter, Yugi? Afraid to unleash you're boyfriend on me?" Joey mocked.

Yugi shook his head, "No, Joey. I want you to hear me. You asked what I would tell Takara when she grew older. If she asks, I'll tell her that while Yami may not be her birth father, he's a lot better than her actual birth father who didn't give two shits about me. I'll tell her that her that while Yami helped me take care of her, her birth father never thought to help me in anyway. I'll tell her what a selfish, egotistical, uncaring person he was.

"I loved you once. You used that against me. I never did anything you didn't want but you always were doing something I didn't want. I tried to be the best but I guess I wasn't the best, and you know what? That's okay. I didn't have to be the best because maybe I wasn't the right one for you. Maybe Mr. Kaiba here is. I always said I wouldn't forgive you for the way you treated me, but I do. I forgive you Joey. I don't, however, forgive you for treating our child like she means nothing to you. The only reason you want her is because you don't like Yami. You won't get our daughter. Takara is my daughter and you are nothing to her. I don't want to see you or hear from you again, and if you so as much come around me and my daughter again, I won't be responsible for what Yami or I do to you," Yugi said taking the keys from Yami and getting in the car.

Joey looked at Yugi with hatred in his eyes. Seto was confused, "Okay, what was that all about? I mean I get that Joey and Yugi have some history together, right?"

Joey just smiled at his boyfriend and walked to the car. Yami sighed, "Short version? Joey and Yugi were best friends who dated. Five months later, Joey breaks up with Yugi, and doesn't give a reason. Turns out, Yugi was pregnant with his child. Joey didn't care and didn't offer to help. Now he wants Yugi's daughter."

"I see."

"Mr. Kaiba, I know I don't have any business with your love life, but I don't think Wheeler is the right one for you. He was very abusive to Yugi."

Kaiba chuckled, "I thank you for your concern, Yami but I have things under control."

Yami nodded and got in the driver's seat and the two of them drove off. Once they got back to the house Yugi headed for Takara's nursery. He changed her diaper, put her in some pajamas and sat in the rocking chair feeding her. It didn't take long for Yami to join him. He stood behind the chair and watched at Yugi fed his daughter. After burping her Yugi placed her in the crib. Takara immediately stuffed a fist in her mouth and closed her eyes.

Yami chuckled, "She loves that fist, doesn't she?"

"Yeah, she does."

Yami put an arm around Yugi's waist as they walked out of the nursery and into the kitchen. Yami heated up the food from the restaurant and they ate in silence.

"I'm proud of you, Yugi. Standing up to Joey like that? It was very brave."

Yugi chuckled, "Thanks. Do you realize that we've been together almost a whole year? And this is gonna be our first Christmas together?"

Yami nodded as he put a forkful of food in his mouth. "We've been together almost a whole year, and I know that you still have fears about me leaving, but I need you to understand that I'm not going anywhere."

Yugi nodded and they finished their dinner.

The next morning Yugi woke up to the sun shining in the window. He groaned and closed his eyes again. Yami chuckled.

"Wake up, sleepy head. Its Christmas morning, and Takara wants her papa."

Yugi groaned again and pushed himself to a sitting position. He smiled when he saw Yami and Takara sitting in the chair. Suddenly his smile turned to a grimace as he bolted out of bed and into the bathroom to puke his guts out. Most of it was a bunch of dry heaving since he didn't have a whole lot in his stomach. He flushed the toilet, rinsed out his mouth and headed back to the bedroom.

"You okay?"

Yugi nodded, "Yeah I'm fine."

"Pa! Da!" Takara screamed.

"What?"

Yami chuckled, "She's been doing that since she woke up. I think she's trying to say papa and daddy, but I'm not sure."

"Yami she's only five months. You really think she'd be starting to talk now?"

Yami shrugged, "I dunno, maybe we can ask Ryou when he comes over."

"What time is everyone getting here?"

Yami shrugged again, "I'm not sure, but maybe we should get dressed. Why don't you head into the shower and I'll feed Taki."

"Okay."

Yugi grabbed some clothes and headed into the shower while Yami took Takara in the kitchen and sat her in the high chair.

"Okay, honey, let's see what's for breakfast. Oh, we have cereal and yogurt, how's that sound?"

Takara giggled and clapped her hands making Yami laugh. He put a handful of dry Cheerios on the high chair while he went to the fridge and got out the yogurt. Takara was halfway through the yogurt when Yugi entered the kitchen.

"Hey, she finished?"

"Almost."

"If you want I'll finish feeding her and you can take your shower."

Yami nodded. Yugi took over feeding Takara as Yami went to take his shower. Once Takara was done, Yugi cleaned her up and sat her on the living room floor with toys and went back into the kitchen to make breakfast for him and Yami. Just as he was putting the food on plates Yami entered the kitchen. Yugi smiled at him.

"Do you know how hot you look in a hoodie?"

Yami chuckled, "Yeah?"

"Mhm."

Yami walked over to him and pulled him close, "Well do you know how hot you look in those jeans? Makes me wanna take them off you right now."

Yugi moaned, "Yami…"

"Sorry, baby couldn't resist."

"You're such a tease."

"Well, we'll see tonight, won't we?" he asked as the doorbell rang.

Yami opened the door and in walked Tristan, Teá, Ryou, Bakura, Riena, Yori, and Solomon. Takara screeched. Riena laughed and picked her up.

"Merry Christmas, Takara."

"Did you all eat?"

Everyone nodded.

"Well, Yugi and I were just about to eat, if anyone wants to join us. Other than that, put the presents under the tree and we'll distribute them later."

Yami and Yugi ate breakfast pretty fast. When they were done, they entered the living room where Solomon and Yori were getting into a heated argument.

"Hey!" Yami yelled at them. "It's Christmas that means no fighting. If you can't say nice things or keep your hands to yourselves, then leave."

Takara crawled over to her daddy and said, "Da!"

"Hey cutie," Yami said picking her up.

Everyone played games, watched TV and enjoyed each other's company. Riena and Teá headed into the kitchen to bake. They baked cookies and a cake and cooked dinner. Yori, sat on the couch looking like he was having an aneurysm. Pretty much everyone ignored him. Bakura was teasing Ryou with mistletoe while Tristan and Yugi talked about kids.

"We have fresh baked cookies," Teá said putting a plate down on the coffee table.

The minute the smell got to Yugi's nose he felt like he was gonna puke. He rushed to the bathroom again. Solomon looked worried.

"Is he okay?"

Yami nodded, "Yeah, I just think he's coming down with the flu. Hey Ryou, um, Yugi wanted to know if it was possible that Takara can start talking now at this age."

"It's possible. I mean of course she won't be able to say a whole lotta things but she might be able to say just a few words. I mean most kids don't start talking until their eight or ninth month, but it could happen earlier. Just like walking or crawling."

Yami nodded as Yugi came back. After a while they started to exchange gifts. Yugi got a watch, a set of books, two hats and mittens, a new jacket, and a photo album. Yami got clothes, a hat and mittens, a set of fresheners for the car and some new CDs. Once all the gifts were exchanged and opened it was 6:00. Riena and Yugi set the table for dinner and they all sat around eating and laughing. Even Yori started to enjoy himself a little bit.

It was 9:00 by the time everyone left. Yugi and Yami were both exhausted. Yami cleaned up the living room while Yugi put Takara to bed. Once they were done, they flopped on the bed. They laid on their backs for about two minutes before they grabbed each other kissing and nipping flesh. Soon clothes were discarded as they continued kissing each other and touching each other. They soon slipped into a night full of passion.

TBC...