The Better Father

Disclaimer Note: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Fire all lawyers that think I do!

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Chapter 2: Three Years Later

I lay asleep in my bed relishing the rest when WHAM! "Daddy!" a voice from nowhere calls. Ok, you don't know pain until a three-year-old toddler actually sails through the air and slams on your chest. Forget alarm clocks for me. My daughter can wake me up no matter what. I grunted and opened my eyes to find her sitting directly on my stomach. "What have I told ya 'bout doin' dat?" I asked yawning. "Um, not to do it?" she asked innocently. "Exactly," I said. "Uncle Moneybags says come downstairs," she said. "Breakfast is ready." I had to snicker at this. She picks up anything if you say it all the time. That's why I'm having to watch my language since she'll pick up cuss words and actually tell anyone that I'm swearing and say the damn word.

But I bet you're wondering how the hell we wound up in the Kaiba Mansion.

Here's the deal. About two years ago, one of the tenants in our apartment building had this blowout bash. When I mean blowout, he set the place on fire accidentally and it got in our apartment too. So I'm standing outside trying to calm Liz down, who was having one hell of a hissy fit since it scared her completely, when this limo comes from nowhere and out comes Seto Kaiba. He pushes cops and firemen out of his way and points at us demanding we get in the limo. Seeing it was either this or the streets, I reluctantly agreed. So that's how we got to the mansion. I never expected Liz to become partners in crime with Mokuba though. If trouble starts, it could be one or both of them. That's the sad part...you don't know who's guilty. I swear that boy is a bad influence. Oh well. I can't complain.

"Tell Uncle Moneybags I'm comin'," I said kissing her forehead. She nodded and ran off. That's when I noticed something. Liz was dressed, but was bare. Th. This is a pet peeve of mine. If you're going to dress my child, be sure you add shoes and socks. Otherwise, I will say something. I got out of bed and pulled on my jeans and t-shirt before heading downstairs. Liz was sitting on the counter watching Kaiba on his laptop while he ate. Looks like Miss Curious caught him early. "Honey, who gotcha dressed?" I asked as I fixed some coffee. "Uncle Moneybags did," she said causing Kaiba to almost choke on the coffee he was drinking. Uh oh! There's another thing I have to stop saying. Kaiba narrowed his eyes at me, but then looked at Liz. "Telcle cle Seto who taught you to say that," he said rather sweetly. Oh sure! Bribe the poor child, Kaiba! That's what every kid needs! BLACKMAIL! looklooked straight at me and raised her finger. "Daddy," she said and I struggled not to laugh. I was basically blushing and sweatdropping at the same time. "Uh, come on," I said lifting her in my arms. "Uncle Seto shoulda known to put your shoes and socks on." I gave a slight glare to Kaiba and left the room.

Upon finishing what Kaiba started, I walked downstairs as Liz just ran past me and grabbed Mokuba's hand and the two kids ran off. "Hey! No running in the house!" Kaiba shouted. They ran into a study ignoring Kaiba and slammed the door. I raised a brow a moment and returned to what coffee I had. "Dey're kids," I said seriously. "Dey gonna act like dat." Kaiba frowned deeply. What, did I say someg wrg wrong AGAIN?! Damn, I swear this man gets mad when I even talk! I guess I'm going to definately learn to shut up around the high and mightly Seto Kaiba. A crash interruped my thoughts and I raised a brow. Looks like coffee was definately out of the question as I stood up and saw a mess bigger than what I could ever make. Of course, I saw two kids looking totally innocent to all charges. I gave them a slight glare and began picking up the pieces of a vase that looked at least too old to even be living and cut my hand.

"SHIT!" I growled and of course Liz gave me a direct look that said AHA! Daddy said a bad word and I'm gonna tell everyone at the daycare! Mokuba could tell I was getting peeved and grabbed her hand. "C'mon, Liz," he gulped. "Joey's gonna go bananas in a minute!" The two ran off and of course slammed into Kaiba. Heh, serves them right. I used my teeth to remove the piece of vase in my hand and headed off to get something for it while giving Liz my You're So Busted look and she shrank back slightly. Kaiba saw the mess and looked at the two frowning with his arms crossed on his chest. "I want answers and I want them now," he growled. "It just...kinda fell over?" Liz asked nervously. "How did it kinda fall over?" he asked. Mokuba stared at his new Nikes noticing how cool they were instead of answering. Liz, on the other hand, was studying a painting in the room and Kaiba's face was turning pretty much bright red with anger.

"Elizabeth Michelle, come here," I said sternly. I had finished wrapping my hand and she dragged herself to me. Kaiba led his brother off to another room and we could hear the yelling and snapping. Liz's face paled severely and I sighed holding her close. "Why does he yell at Mokie like that?" she whimpered. I sighed. I couldn't be mad at her after hearing muc much arguing. "I don't know," I said not even wanting to go that route. I lifted her in my arms and tried to calm her down as Mokuba ran out clinging to my leg in fear. I sighed and lifted him in my arms as well. I've become Joey Wheeler, the comfort stone of the Kaiba Mansion. I heard more slamming around than I wanted and Kaiba walked in the kitchen. "I'm going to work now," he said seriously grabbing his briefcase. "See you guys later." And with that, he was gone. I exhaled rather slowly and looked at the two frightened kids in my arms. "Mokuba, go git ready for school," I said quietly and he nodded walking off. Liz buried her head in my chest and clung to me. "I don't wanna go to daycare, Daddy," she whimpered. "I wanna stay with you." "Daddy has dings to do, baby," I said softly. Namly storm into KaibaCorp and give Kaiba a damn piece of my mind for the way he treats the kids. "I'll pick you up at lunchtime and we'll eat at McDonald's, k?" She sniffled and nodded. She loved McDonald's and I knew it would help calm her down after this morning.

Once dropping the kids off at their designated areas, I drove to KaibaCorp and walked inside. No one said anything when I came over. They figured Kaiba allowed me in whenever the hell I wanted. Normally, I left with black eyes and bruises, but this time it was personal. I got in the elevator and rode to the top floor to find Kaiba working on some new Duel Disk modifications. Don't ask how the hell I figured that one out. I'm rather shaky on the details myself. "Kaiba, we need to talk," I said seriously. His hawk eyes never cease to hit me right where it hurts and he frowned. "Meet me in my office," he said seriously and I shrugged nodding walking to what I called the Blue Eyes Living Nightmare office. This bastard BlueBlue Eyes White Dragons on the brain even after all these years. Hell, I couldn't say much. I was always into the Red Eyes Black Dragon. Liz even took over my plushie of the dragon and it never leaves her side at all.

Kaiba walked in and I fixed my glare straight at him. "You know you scared de kids until dey're next lifetime," I said sternly. "Why de fuck do you always hafta do dat? Why do you dink dey always run to me? Dey're too damn scared of you, Seto! Every mornin' it's de same. Somethin' happens and you yell at dem like dey work for you. Every evenin', you come home and dey run to me like dey dink're 're gonna strike dem. If you don't shape your ass up, I'm gonna take matters in my own hands even with your brother!" There, I said it. Got rid of all that anger and still I looked like I could punch out more. Kaiba's face went from stern to hurt in the matter of five seconds and he sighed. Yep, I hit him right where it hurts too...right in the ego. Right in the fucking kisser! Ha! Joey Wheeler made the all powerful Seto Kaiba fall to his knees!

But I didn't expect tears...yes, you heard me, tears. His sapphire blue eyes went into two large lakes in moments and he sat down turning his chair away from me and his head bowed as one hand was brought to his face. I never thought Iive ive to see the day when I saw Kaiba cry. Just then, my cell phone rang and I sighed picking it up. "Wheeler," I answered. "Yeah, I'm on my way. Bye." I hung up and closed my eyes a moment. "I gotta pick up Mokuba," I said. "He ain't feelin' well. Dink 'bout what I said, Seto." I left as quickly as I walked in and headed for the school to get Mokuba, who apparently wasn't feeling good at all that day and had caught the flu or something. I took him to the doctor and got him some medication for it before going to pick up Liz, who was all jumpy and excited about our little date as I called our times alone. I left Mokuba with one of the maids and took her on. I sat there eating my Big Mac and sighed as I thought about Kaiba's expression while Liz wolfed down her Happy Meal and was playing in the PlayPlace. She noticed the look on my face and walked to me curling up in my lap. "Daddy, don't be sad," she said throwing her arms around my neck. I hugged her close and nodded. "How 'bout we check on Uncle Seto?" I asked quietly. She nodded and we headed to KaibaCorp one more tim
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Kaiba was napping on his leather sofa and still had fresh tears coming down from his eyes. Wow, did I affect him that much? I put Liz down and whispered something in her ear. She looked at me and then at Kaiba walking to him and climbing on top of his chest kissing his cheek. He stirred and woke up looking at her a moment before embracing her as he looked at me. I shrugged and sat down watching this to make sure Kaiba didn't decide to hang her by her toenails fast. Instead, he kissed her forehead gently and she looked up at him while sitting in his lap. "How's Mokuba?" he asked in a shaky voice trying to calm down. "He has de flu," I said. "I took him to de doc and he gave him somethin' for it. He's at home restin' hopefully." He nodded and Liz snuggled against his chest when she handed him her toy from the Happy Meal. "Here, Uncle Seto," she whispered and hugged him. "You keep it. I want you to have it." You don't know the willpower it took to keep me from crying now. The scene was too sweet. Kaiba returned the hug and closed his eyes as tears slid down his cheeks. "Thank you, Liz," he whispered.

Once back at the mansion, Kaiba went straight for his brother and I sat down in the kitchen with the newspaper. Liz played nearby with some Legos and I watched her smiling. "Daddy, did I do good today?" she asked suddenly. I chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Yeah," I said proudly. "Yeah you did." She beamed and hugged me close. Kaiba walked downstairs and saw this smiling. "Liz, can you let me and Daddy talk alone for awhile?" he asked. She nodded and walked off as I moved her Legos to another area to keep from falling over them. "Joey..." he sighed and sat down suddenly. "Thanks. I needed someone to actually tear my ass apart for once in my life." I raised an eyebrow and nodded. "No problem," I said. "If you need another ass kickin', you know who to come to." He chuckled and kissed my cheek before walking off causing me to blush bright red. He kissed me?! Ok, now I'm confused. I cleared my throat and grunted as I returned to my newspaper and Liz ran back in to play with her Legos. That night, I tucked her in bed kissing her forehead gently as she clutched her new plushie close to her. I watched her sleep a moment and walked to my room after putting on the nightlight and closed my door to find something on my pillow.

It was a yellow rose.

I studied it a moment to find a note attached. I read it and looked at the rose. I smiled slightly and nodded as I walked downstairs to get a small vase and filled it with water and put it on my nightstand with the rose inside. I stidued it a moment as I lay in bed and wondered what goi going on. Luckily, my friends and I were going out, so maybe I could talk to them about it. All I knew was that my heart was pounding fast and I was practically weak in the knees.

Oh, hell yeah...I was showing the signs of someone in love and didn't know it.
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To Be Continued...