May: I think this one would probably be a short chapter...it just composes Atem's burthday and his parents... That's all.

Yugi: So why a surprise?

May: I love to make it that way.

Atem: Would that be 1 year later?

(nods)May: Yup. you were turning five years old here at this chapter.

Atem: She does not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Yugi: Please comment and review.

Chapter 7

Aknakamon and Arsinoe lie in bed, exhausted. Because of day's work or something? She then looked at her husband, who was lying beside her, eyes closed.

Leaning on her elbow, "Aknankamon..."

Aknankamon opened one eye, "What is it?"

"Don't you ever wonder?" she asked, curious.

"Wonder about what?" he asked, as he raised himself up, to kook at her.

"Wonder why I'm being so...flushed today."

He raised an eyebrow, "Flushed? Never notice that."

She looked at him, one eyebrow raised, "Oh? Why?"

He sighed, "I guess...because I was...busy?"

"Oh, you are so unpredictable!" she said as she raises herself up, and takes a pillow.

"I know!" he smiled at her. He knew somehow that she had enjoyed the moment they had, but there was a feeling of sadness with it. What if she became pregnant? He thought. He would never forgive himself.

A few weeks later...

It was the Prince's birthday, and the royal palace was preparing for it extravagantly. For delegates of different countries were coming. There was dancing and a banquet, with all the known delicacies that the palace cooks could do.

Atem meanwhile was in his rooms, dressing up. He had grown taller since he started studying his lessons. Along with him is his friend, Mana.

"Atem, you look cute in that outfit." she said, giggling.

He then sighed while facing the mirror, "I know that, Mana. A lot of people say that."

"Yeah, and a lot wanted to tickle you cause you were so irresistible." she reasoned.

"I'm not!" he pouted, "The reason why I look cute is because of this jewelry I'm wearing." he gestured to the earrings and the wristbands.

"You look like a girl." she snickered. "Why don't you tell your parents that you hate your outfit?" she dared.

He then sighed, "I couldn't. All they would say is that I would outgrow it sooner or later."

"It looks like today than never." Mana joked.

Seth then entered the room. He was the son of Akhenaden and future holder of the millennium rod. But now, he has to endure studying the same with the apprentices and his cousin.

"Hi cousin. Nice outfit." he snickered.

"Cut it out, Seth." Atem growled.

"Relax, I was just joking."

Atem then looked at him, "What are you doing here anyway?"

Seth then sat in one the chairs in the room. "I was sent here to check if you are already prepared."

Atem sighed in exasperation. It seems to him, his parents never wanted him alone even with Mana. They always send Seth to check up on him.

"Where's Mahad?" he asked. He never heard from him lately.

"He's helping out the palace servants." answered Seth. Then he stood up, "Come on."

Atem nodded as he, Seth and Mana left his rooms to go to the throne room, where the celebration would take place.

When they arrived at the throne room, Atem took his place beside his parents as the Prince of Egypt. While Mana and Seth blended with the crowd.

"Happy Birthday, son." Aknankamon greeted him.

"Thank you, Father and mother." he replied happily then sadness took over and Arsinoe noticed it.

"What's wrong Atem? Is something bothering you?" she asked worriedly.

Atem looked at his mother, "There's nothing wrong, mother."

"Then why are you like that?" his father asked, "Don't you like what we prepared?"

"No, it's not that. I was just wondering..." Atem stopped then looked at the crowd which was beginning to enter the throne room. "Later." he quipped.

Aknankamon and Arsinoe looked at each other. They felt somehow, something was bothering their son. And they would figure it out later. After the celebration. While the celebration commenced, the nobles gave gifts raging from toys to pets and received them eagerly, thanking every one.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday with me. It means everything to me." he said to the different delegates in the room.

A few hours later...

Atem lay in his bed, exhausted. He knew how his birthdays were tiring and boring but also it was meaningful. But there was one feeling he just couldn't erase from his mind that he wanted someone to play with him. Not Mana or Seth or even Mahad, but someone who was related to him. A sibling.

He was thinking to himself when his parents entered his room. He raised himself up on the bed.

"Father, Mother what are you doing here?"

Arsinoe sat beside her son and took him in her arms, "We noticed earlier, in the celebration that you were kind of gloomy. You have never been like this during your birthdays."

Atem looked at his father, who sighed and nodded his head in agreement.

"Your mother's right. We kind of notice that you weren't enjoying this as much as you do before. Is there something bothering you?"

He looked down. He thought his parents would never noticed his attitude earlier but he was wrong, they had noticed it alright.

"Care to tell us about it?" Aknankamon asked his son.

Atem sighed. He sat up straighter.

"Awhile ago while I was getting dressed, I was wondering why I was wearing all of these jewelry. And other kids of my age, didn't have to. Like Seth or Mana or Mahad."

His parents looked at each other. They possibly didn't know how to explain it to their son. On why he dresses up like a girl.

"Actually Atem we can't explain why. Your mother and I honestly didn't know what we are going to dressed you up, but since our culture does have obsessiveness with gold, silver and other things that are what we decided to do." he explained.

Atem understood what his parents wanted to say, he looked up at them.

"I'm sorry on how I acted awhile ago."

"Why are you apologizing?" Arsinoe asked, "You never did anything wrong."

"No you're wrong." Atem insisted, "I ruined the mood you had awhile ago with all my problems."

"No, Atem you didn't." He told him. "Your mother and was just worried about you."

"Your father's right and I think you two would like my surprise." she told them.

Atem looked at his father, confused. Aknankamon looked back to him, having the same expression as his son's. He looked at his wife with confusion clearly evident on his face. She laughed at the way on how her husband and son portrayed the same expression.

"I have a surprise for both of you. Especially you Atem."

Aknankamon looked at his wife, uneasily. "What are you talking about, Arsinoe?"

Arsinoe looked at Atem, "You said you wanted a sibling right?"

Atem scrunched his nose to remember. "When did I say that?"

"About two to three years ago. I exactly don't remember." she told him.

Anankamon looked at his wife, complete horror on his face, "Arsinoe...are you...pregnant?" he said the words, slowly.

She nodded. "I am pregnant."

"How long?" Atem asked.

"Just only weeks before your birthday." she confirmed.

"When did you come to know of this?" Aknankamon asked.

"Last week when I came to visit Isis because I was experiencing morning sickness."

Flashback...

Arsinoe went to the infirmary to seek for Isis' help. She had been feeling woozy lately and she doesn't know why. As Isis saw her enter, she bowed lowly to the floor.

"Why have you come here, Your Majesty?"

"I have been meaning to ask you about this...feeling I'm having lately."

"What feeling is that?" Isis asked.

Arsinoe sat on one of the beds, "I was feeling very nauseous lately."

Isis then helped her to lie down and by using a little magic as she can, she checked her queen's body for any kind of sickness. She hovered her hand above her queen while concentrating on the spell she was reciting. But when she got to the stomach and pelvic part, that's where she feigned in surprise. Arsinoe noticed it.

"Isis what's wrong?" she asked.

The physician didn't answer. Arsinoe then felt something wrong so she gripped Isis' arm, her nails digging on the skin.

"Isis! Tell me what's wrong!" she insisted as she rise up.

Isis stared at her queen. She then noticed on how she was afraid what could have begone.

"I'm sorry." she hung her head low.

"Why are you apologizing?" she asked, " You didn't do anything wrong."

Isis then suppressed a small smile, "Now where have we left of?"

Arsinoe then smiled at her, glad that she was back to normal. "You are supposed to tell me what you saw."

Isis nodded. "It's great news, indeed."

"Why?"

Isis smiled, wider this time. "You are pregnant, my queen."

That news shocked Arsinoe. She knew somehow that the gods would grant her wish, but with a prize.

"I'm sure the pharaoh and the prince would be happy to hear about this."

Arsinoe nodded. She knew do somehow that Atem would be happy about this. But Aknankamon...she doesn't know what he'll say about this.

"I'll tell them on Atem's birthday." she told Isis, who helped her down on the bed.

"It sure would be a pleasant surprise to the Crown Prince."

Arsinoe smiled,"It was his wish after all." was her parting words before she left the room.

Atem then smiled at his mother, "When is the date?" he asked, excitedly.

"Oh, you would have to wait for 9 months." she told him.

"Nine months?" he pouted, "But that's too long."

"That's why you have to wait long enough." she told him, "You have to be prepared."

"Oh." Atem mumbled. "I guess I just have to wait until then,huh?"

Aknankamon then looked at his wife, "We should get rest." He stood up from the bed and ruffled his son's head.

"You take a rest, okay? It's been a long day."

Atem nodded and laid down again, "Good night."

Arsinoe then leaned in close and kissed him on the cheek, "Good night, my little prince." she whispered. She then stood up and went with Aknankamon out of the room.

Yugi: I thought this is a short chapter.

May: Sorry I got carried to all my readers! I just have a tight schedule so I can't update lately. Hope you understand.

Yugi: They do understand. (sighs)