enjoy!

Chapter 19

Over the next week Yugi tried to find an afterschool job. So far no one was hiring, but that didn't cause him to lose hope. He knew that he could find something somewhere. He needed something and soon. Yami's birthday, not to mention Christmas was soon. He had just put Takara down for a nap when the doorbell rang. After making sure the monitor was on, he ran to the door. Bakura and Ryou were standing there.

"Hey, guys come on in. I see it's still snowing."

Ryou and Bakura entered the house as Bakura grumbled, "I hate the freaking winter."

Yugi laughed, "Not many people do, Bakura."

"Where's Yami, still at work?" Ryou asked sitting on the couch.

Yugi nodded, "Yeah. He should be home soon."

"Hey, Yugi, Yami told me that you were looking for an afterschool job. Maybe I can help."

"How?"

"Well, I can see if I can score you a job at the restaurant where I work."

"Um, okay."

Bakura nodded just as Yami entered the house. He waved to Ryou and Bakura and kissed his boyfriend on the lips.

"Where's Takara?"

"Napping."

"So what brings you knuckleheads to my house?" He teased sitting next to Yugi.

"Bakura offered Yugi a job, and I have the results of the test."

Yugi looked at Yami fearful. Yami took Yugi's hand in his and squeezed gently. He then turned to Ryou and nodded.

"Are you ready?"

"Please," Yugi whined.

"Well according to the test, Yami's the father of Yugi's baby."

Tears rolled down Yugi's cheek. Yami looked at his young lover.

"Baby, why are you crying? Aren't you happy?"

"Yes, I'm very happy. I was so scared, Yami."

Yami pulled his boyfriend into his lap, "I know, baby. Me too."

Ryou and Bakura smiled at the two lovers. Just then Takara cried. Yugi groaned.

"I swear it's like she knows something exciting is happening. Whenever there's something going on that is exciting she doesn't sleep long," he said going to pick up his daughter.

Yugi returned with Takara in his arms. When Takara saw her daddy, she thrust out her arms and squealed.

"Dada! Dada!"

Yami smiled and took Takara from Yugi as he sat back down. He bounced her on his lap causing her to giggle.

"Hey sweetie, miss me?"

Takara kissed her daddy on the cheek.

The next morning Riena came to watch Takara as Yugi went to school and Yugi went to work. As they were getting ready to leave, Riena kissed Yugi on the cheek.

"What was that for?" Yugi asked as Yami chuckled.

"Just to show you that there's no hard feelings."

Yugi smiled, "Thanks."

"Let's go, pussycat, you don't wanna be late."

Yugi nodded and kissed Takara on the forehead and followed Yami out to the car. Yami dropped Yugi off in front of the school and gave him a kiss.

"Oh, I start my new job today so Bakura is gonna pick me up and bring me home."

Yami nodded, "Okay, have fun, pussycat."

Yugi waved as Yami drove off and ran to catch up with his friends. They all went into History together. Yugi took his seat next to Teá and opened his notebook, ready for the lesson to begin.

"Dude, where's the teacher?" Tristan asked.

Yugi shrugged as the principal entered the room. "Morning class, Mr. Harris is out sick today so I'm introducing Maxi Jones," Mai smiled to the man entering the classroom.

No! No! No! Yugi thought as he recognized the man entering the room. Please, it can't be. He's a freaking teacher?

"Yugi, you okay, man?" Tristan asked.

No, I'm not. "Uh…yeah, I'm good."

"Morning class, like your principal said I'm Maxi Jones, but in class you can call me Maxi. I'm gonna enjoy this week with you."

A whole week? Oh, man. Yugi groaned and tried to bury his face in his book when Maxi called to him.

"Hey, kid, I know you. You're Yugi, right?"

Yugi looked up and nodded. Maxi grinned.

"Yeah, I thought I recognized you. You and Yami were at the graduation party. That was some party, wasn't it?"

Yugi just nodded. He was ready to leave already. Luckily for him Maxi didn't call attention to him for the rest of the class and he didn't call attention to himself either. By the time class was over he all but ran out of the classroom not waiting for Tristan or Teá. He bumped into Joey.

"Sorry, Joey."

"Its okay, Yugi. Listen, can we talk?"

"Now what?"

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

Tristan and Teá exited the room. "You're sorry?" Tristan said angrily. "You're sorry for making Yugi's life a living hell, by kidnapping his daughter and-"

"Tristan, stop. Look, Joey, I have to get to class, but we can talk a lunch okay?"

Joey nodded and walked off. Tristan and Yugi headed to their next class together while Teá headed her own way to a separate class. Throughout the rest of the class, Yugi's mind kept wandering to Maxi. He unconsciously put his hand over his stomach. Tristan noticed how out of it Yugi was and thought he was thinking about Joey.

By the time lunch rolled around Yugi was ready to call the day quits and he was starting his new job later. The trio got into the line for lunch. The minute Yugi glanced at the food, his stomach churned and he ran to the nearest men's room to puke. Just as he was exiting the bathroom he bumped into Maxi.

"Hey, Yugi. Glad to see you survived. Now that means I can have you again," Maxi laughed and walked past him into the bathroom.

Yugi ran all the way back to the lunchroom and sat at the usual table with his friends. Teá smiled and pushed a tray in front of him.

"I got you a tray. Thought you might like some."

Yugi grimaced and pushed the tray away, "No, thank you."

"You're not hungry?" Tristan asked eyeing his friend.

Yugi shook his head, "No."

"Hey, Yugi."

Yugi smiled at Joey, "Hi Joey. So what did you wanna talk about?"

"Ooh, this better be good," Tristan muttered. Teá gave him a look and he shut up.

"I wanted to apologize for everything. For treating you like shit, kidnapping your daughter, you know? All that."

"And you really think an apology is gonna cut it?" Tristan growled.

"Tristan, shut up. This isn't our business. We should leave."

Yugi shook his head, "You don't have to."

"Look, Yugi, I know I was a jackass towards you and our daughter. I just wanted to be a part of her life. That's all, but Seto made me realize that I went about it the wrong way, and I want to make it up to you."

Yugi sighed, "Joey, this really isn't the time or place to have this kind of conversation. Why don't you come to the house tonight around eight? I have to work until seven thirty so I should be home by eight."

"Since when do you work?" Tristan asked.

Yugi smiled, "Since today."

Joey nodded, "Okay, I'll see you tonight."

After lunch the four went to Science. The one class that they had together. As Yugi was passing his history room, Maxi smiled at him and gave him a wink. Yugi shuddered and resisted the urge to scream.

"Yugi, who is that?" Joey asked.

"His name is Maxi Jones. He's the substitute History teacher."

"Yeah, how do you know him? I meant to ask you that earlier?" Tristan asked.

"Yami and I met him at Yami's graduation party."

"Oh."

The rest of the day passed by fairly quickly which was good with Yugi. He was ready to get outta there. By the time the last bell rang he all but ran out the school building rushing to the parking lot where Bakura was waiting for him. He slid into the passenger seat and grinned at Bakura.

"Hey, Bakura."

"Hey, Yugi, ready?"

"Yes. I really appreciate you doing this for me."

"No problem. Let's go."

Bakura drove toward the restaurant. Yugi was very excited to finally have an afterschool job, but he was also nervous. He didn't want to screw up his first day. Bakura led him inside the restaurant and led him to the back.

"Okay, it's fairly simple. What you do is write down orders bring them up to me to get filled and then bring the food to the customers."

Yugi nodded sounds easy enough.

"So how'd you like your first day?" Bakura asked on the ride home.

"It was nice. Busy, but good. Um, I have a question though."

"Shoot."

"Um, when do we get paid?"

Bakura chuckled, "You should be receiving your first check in two weeks."

"Good, that still gives me plenty of time to find Yami a Christmas present and then by the time his birthday comes in January, I'll be able to buy him a birthday present."

Bakura nodded and parked the car in front of Yami's house. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said as Yugi climbed out of the car."

Yugi nodded and headed inside the house. He stopped short when he noticed Yami sitting on the couch with Takara on his lap staring hard at Joey who was sitting in the chair staring at Yami. Yugi sighed, this is so not gonna be pleasant. He walked in the living room and Takara was the first to notice him.

"Papa! Papa!"

Both Yami and Joey turned and saw Yugi standing there. Yugi went over and picked up his daughter and kissed her cheek.

"Miss me, baby?"

"Yugi, Joey, here said that you invited him to come over," Yami said.

Yugi nodded, "Just to talk. He wanted to talk to me about something during school and I told him to wait until I come home. So talk, Joey."

"I was a jerk and I'm sorry. I wanted to be a part of Takara's life and I guess I went about it the wrong way."

"Hang on a sec, Joey. There's something I don't understand. When I told you I was pregnant, you acted like you didn't care, and then all of a sudden after she's born, you wanna act like you care? I just don't get it," Yugi said bouncing Takara on his knee.

"I thought that it wasn't mine, I had heard the rumors of you, and Mike and I thought it was his."

"Even when I told you it was yours?"

"When you assured me that it was indeed mine, I was afraid to admit to myself that I had caused that being growing inside you. I was afraid."

"You don't think I wasn't? I needed you to be there for me, but like always, you cared about yourself and not me. And then you had to go and kidnap her just because you 'wanted to be a part of her life'?"

"Look, I'm sorry alright? I'm sorry I kidnapped your daughter, I'm sorry I ignored you when you were pregnant with her and I'm sorry for hurting you when we were together."

"Sorry isn't enough, Joey. You really think, you'll apologize and I'll take you back? Think again. You're just a sad excuse for a human being. When things don't go the way you want you act out with that damn temper of yours like a spoiled child."

"I can change, Yugi, just give me a chance. I mean we don't have to go back being lovers, but at least let me be your friend again. At least give me the chance to know my daughter, even if she doesn't know I'm her father." Joey sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "I never meant to hurt you, Yugi."

"But the fact remains that you did and I told you I would never forgive you for that."

"At let me prove to you I can change. Please, you owe me that much."

"I don't owe you anything!" Yugi screamed. "You don't get it do you? You and my parents STOLE MY LIFE!"

Takara started crying. She didn't like it when her papa yelled. Yami put his hand on Yugi's thigh.

"Baby, calm down, you're scaring Taki. Besides, you need to watch your blood pressure. It's not good for you or the baby."

Joey's eyes went wide, "You're pregnant again?"

"That's none of your business, Joey. I think it's time for you to leave."

Joey sighed, "Yugi…please."

Yugi shook his head with tears in his eyes, "Leave."

Joey sighed again, "Fine," he said and left the house.

"Pussycat, was that a wise choice?" Yami asked after locking the door.

"Yes. I won't allow him to hurt me again," Yugi said walking into the kitchen and sat Takara in her highchair while he got out some baby food.

Yami followed him, "I know babe, but I mean he was your friend. You don't think you ought to at least give him a shot?"

"No!"

"Whoa, take it easy."

Yugi sighed as he heated up the jar of chicken and rice, "I'm sorry, Yami."

Yami opened the fridge and pulled out a plate of rice and lamb and stuck it in the microwave after Yugi removed the baby food.

"Don't sweat it, babe."

Yugi pulled his chair up to Takara's high chair and began to feed her. Yami pulled the plate out of the microwave and placed it on the table.

"Hey, you never told me how your day was?"

"It was, okay?"

"Okay? How was the restaurant?"

"It was fine. Busy at times but it was fine."

Once Yugi was done feeding her he took her outta the highchair, cleaned her off, and took her into the nursery where he sat in the chair and fed her. Yami came into the nursery as Yugi was laying her in the crib. Takara put her fist in her mouth as she drifted off to sleep.

"Night, sweetheart," Yugi said kissing her forehead.

Yami turned off the light and the two went into the kitchen to eat. Yugi turned his face and grimaced.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

Yugi didn't answer as he rushed to the bathroom. Ten minutes later Yugi came back into the kitchen smelling like mouthwash.

"You okay?"

Yugi shook his head, "It's like everything I smell makes me nauseous. I couldn't even eat at lunch because just smelling it made me sick."

"What about the restaurant?"

"Bakura gave me some toast that I was able to keep down."

"I'll make you some toast. And I think we still have some ginger ale in the fridge."

Yami opened the fridge and took out the bread, butter and soda and made his boyfriend some toast.

"Yami?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Um, I think I'm gonna stay home from school tomorrow."

"Why, baby? Are you feeling that sick?" Yami asked placing the plate of toast in front of Yugi.

Yugi took a small bite and shook his head.

"So what's wrong? Are you afraid of seeing Joey, is that it?"

"I wish that was the only thing, but it's only part of it."

Yami sat down across from Yugi, "Then what's wrong, baby?"

"I saw him!" Yugi cried biting his lip.

Yami frowned, "Saw who, baby?"

"He's substituting for a whole week. I don't wanna go!"

Yami walked over and grasped Yugi's shoulders, "Whoa, baby, calm down. Who did you see?"

Yugi bit his lip, "One of them."

Yami sighed, "Baby, one of who?"

"The guys who raped me."

TBC...

Max: Did you have to leave it on a cliffhanger?

Me: This was your idea. I only did it to appease you.