CHAPTER I

Moving on with our lives

(A/N: Matt, Mimi and Sora 18, Tai 19, Tk and Kari 16)

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"Hi sweetie" Mimi said to the smiling baby in her arms. "How was the nap? Did you dream with mommy?" The three-months-old baby laughed and stretched her hand to grab one of Mimi's locks. She picked it and placed it over the baby's hand, doing a swift motion of going up and down. She looked like a little kitten trying to catch something hanging from a string. Mimi took the baby's hand in hers and gently rocked while humming a lullaby. As she finished, she felt her little hand holding tightly onto one of her fingers. Mimi pulled away softly but the baby didn't let go. "Why are you so mean to mommy?" she asked and kissed the baby's forehead.

As she sat up straight on the airplane's seat, she heard the captain talking through the loudspeaker.

"Attention to all passengers getting off at Narita Airport. The plane will start descending and hopefully reach ground in 20 minutes. Please fasten your seat belt. Thank You"

Mimi lifted the baby up and slowly placed her on the little crib. "Mommy's so proud of you…" the baby smiled at Mimi. She was happy that the baby hadn't cried during the whole flight from NY. "You're a strong girl aren't you?" The baby giggled as Mimi placed a small teddy bear in her hand. "Who would've thought this little key ring teddy was going to be your favourite…" Mimi pressed the bear and its cheeks enlightened to say "I love you." She moved back and fastened her seat belt. So many things had changed since she last saw him…

She looked out of the window and saw the clouds by her side. Little could she help the smile coming across her face, as she thought and remembered. The last time she saw him, at the airport before her departure, she'd told him to move on with his life. They both knew a baby was coming into her life and little did she know, she wasn't going to be away for so long…

Her gaze fell from the window and onto her hand… at the ring he had given her for her eighteenth birthday. A smile came onto her lips as she remembered the promise he had made… "This is the symbol of my promise… my promise of always loving you."

But her world had changed in a 100 per cent. He meant a lot to her; she still loved him, but… she couldn't leave the baby.

She couldn't deny that both of them were the best things in her life. Stretching forward and peeking inside the crib, she saw little Marie giggling and playing with the teddy.

Marie, Marie, Marie… her mom had always liked that name. After her death, she decided to name the baby like that.

Three months had passed since her death and she couldn't help herself from feeling sorry for her mother. During the last year, they hadn't been as close as before, but she couldn't give her back to her… not after knowing that Marie's father wasn't going to take care of her.

She was a healthy little girl. Mimi never knew Marie's father, but he seemed to be a handsome guy. The little hair she had was light brown, almost blond and her eyes were light blue. She had her mother's smile, the smile she also possessed.

Looking out the window again, she saw the city from above. Everything was still the same… or at least she hoped for that. She knew he could be dating someone else… and it would hurt to see him in other arms.

He was never into commitment and she doubted he'd accept her with the baby… though she told him many times about her dream of marrying and having kids. He never thought of marriage…not even with her… and once told her, he was going to have kids at the age of 40. She didn't know whether that was a joke or something but it wasn't what she wanted to hear. Talking of their future always made her sad. She didn't want to be the eternal girlfriend...

As wheels crushed with the ground, she instinctively leaned to check on the baby. There was a frightened look on her face as she looked at every direction, but when seeing her mother, she stretched her little hands willing to be picked up. Mimi lifted Marie and took her to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her little body as she cuddled for comfort. Mimi placed her inside that little thing woman wear on their chests and tie at their backs so as to carry a baby around not necessarily using their hands... a baby carrier. The baby sat and Mimi held both of her hands. She moved them a bit and Marie happily giggled at the fun she was having.

Mimi jumped on the escalators with Marie on her chest, her purse on her hand and the baby bag on her shoulder. Still she didn't know how she managed that much weight. As she reached the bottom level, she stepped and headed towards the conveyor belt. On her way she picked one of those carts and put both of her bags in it. Mimi looked down and saw Marie playing happily with her hair. She smiled and walked on. When reaching the belt, she spotted her suitcases and hurried her way. She managed to take the three of them with no problem and placed them on the cart. As she made her way to the exit, many "passers" by stared at her... Was it too strange to see a young woman with a baby? Either way, when approaching the exit, the doors opened and she walked out, looking around, hoping, to see the familiar face she was expecting. "Mimi! Mimi here!" she heard someone yelling from behind. She turned around to see her long time friend Sora, waiting for her. She smiled and pushed the cart out of the crowd and into her friend.

"Mimi, I can't believe it! Is this Marie?" she asked excited

"Yes" she answered and hugged her friend.

"Oh my God! Look at her! She's totally cute"

"You wanna hold her?"

"Of course I want to!" she answered and Mimi lifted Marie and handed it to her.

"Oh Mimi! She's angel" She just smiled at her friend and at her baby. Marie was desperately putting her arms up to catch some of Sora's hair, but her hair, was a little above the shoulders and out of Marie's reach. When noticing she couldn't grab anything, she started pouting and then crying.

"Uh…oh, I think she doesn't like me…" Sora looked down at the crying baby while Mimi just smiled and took her in her arms.

"Sora, you definitely need practice" she said with a smirk. "What's wrong honey? Auntie Sora's not that bad…" Sora rolled her eyes and watched curiously at the way Mimi succeeded in calming the baby down. She took the cart while Mimi came walking with Marie next to her side.

"You know, you really act like a mother"

"Do you really think so?" Sora nodded and Mimi's eyes shined. "You see Marie, mommy's the best of all mommies!" Marie let out a little laugh while Sora giggled.

"You haven't changed one bit, Mimi." They walked out into the parking lot and into Sora's car. Mimi opened the door and sat Marie inside. She then helped Sora with her cases.

"And uhm… how's Matt?" she asked trying not to sound too interested.

"After you left, he was a lost soul…until he started dating this girl, which I personally dislike"

"WHAT?!...I mean, what did you say?" She asked in a soft voice. Sora looked at her as they finished putting the last bag on the boot.

"Come on in." Mimi walked to the back sit and picked Marie. She closed the door behind and sat in the front seat. She handed her to Sora while she put the seat belt on. Marie was now inside the baby carrier and excitedly looked around.

"Are you ready to go Mimi"?

"Yes" she answered and Sora drove off.

"Sora?"

"Umm?"

"What were you telling me 'bout Matt's girlfriend?" Sora looked over at her friend who was looking down at her sleeping baby.

"I don't know Mimi…I think Matt's still in love with you"

"Do you really think so? She asked with hope in her voice.

"Yes… he doesn't even look happy with her; although he denies it…"

"And how is she? Pretty? Smart?"

"None of them" she pulled up as the lights slowly changed. Sora looked at her friend and correctly picked her words.

"Everybody knows he's still in love with you. He decided to move on with his life alone, when this girl popped up. I really don't know if she loves him, but he's not into her as much as she is into him. I don't know what might happen when he sees you…"

"You didn't tell him I was coming right?" Sora started the car as soon as the light changed and kept silent for a moment.

"No, I didn't… but I don't think he expects to see you so soon." Mimi looked down at her baby and then out of the window. She didn't exactly know whether to tell Sora or Matt about what was happening inside her. She let out a sigh and tried to erase the thought off her mind.

"So… How's everything coming for the big day?" She asked, trying to change the subject.

"Mimi!" she squealed, "I just can't believe it!"

"Neither do I! I always thought I was going to get married before you!"

"Mimi I'm not getting married!"

"I know, but putting wedding rings, and marrying after is mostly the same!"

"Mimi, this is just a little "ring ceremony" or "engagement party", that's all!"

"You're one step closer to marriage and a step ahead of me!" Both girls laughed and talked about Sora's engagement the entire ride to the city.

"So how does Tai feel about it all?"

"He's happy, I'm happy, we're both happy"

"And what does your mother say? Isn't she afraid of you getting engaged so young?"

"Nah…I don't think so. She's happy because she knows I've always been into Tai"

"And that's not a lie!"

"How about you and Matt? You two are head over heals with each other"

"Well… Matt and I …we loved each other and that ended. You and Tai have been officially together for almost 4 years! That's a long time!"

"I know…but they surely are the 4 most amazing years in my life."

"I bet so." Sora stopped the car right outside Mimi's apartment building.

"Mimi, while you get out, I'll call the concierge and ask him to help us with the suitcases"

"Ok" She yelled as her friend went inside. Mimi tried to take the seat belt without waking little Marie up. It was hard, but managed to do it. As she got off, Marie stirred and opened her eyes. "Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high; there's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby…" As hearing her mother sing, Marie's eyes slowly closed, reacting to the music and the soft motion in Mimi's rocking. She smiled to herself and slowly closed the door behind. She walked into the elevator not before waving hello to the concierge and saying "thank you" just with her lips.

"Long time I haven't been here" She admitted to her friend in a low whisper.

"I still have the key you handed me once, remember? Kari and I came to do some cleaning the other day" Mimi looked at her with a worried look.

"Did you tell her about Marie?"

"No, I saved that for you. Everybody thinks the issue has been forgotten"

"You know Sora, I wasn't going to, but I couldn't leave her to be an orphan…"

"I understand, and I would have done the same thing if I were you"

"Really?"

"Yes"

"I owe you the hug" She said smiling as the elevator stopped and both walked out carrying the suitcases and bags before the doors closed.

"Here" Sora said handing Mimi the key to her house.

"Thanks!" She placed the key on the keyhole and turned the knob. She entered the room followed by Sora.

Her house was exactly the same when she left it three months ago. She walked to the couch and placed Marie in between pillows. Both friends looked at the peacefully sleeping baby and smiled. Mimi stretched a bit and went outside to enter her suitcases. After the cases were inside, Sora sat down and started a conversation.

"Sora?"

"Yes Mimi?"

"Do I look different… physically different?"

"No…why?" Mimi gave a little turn and asked her again.

"You sure?"

"I... your boobs seem a bit bigger…" Mimi laughed at her friend's comment.

"Sora!" she yelled at her

"It's the truth!"

"That's all the difference you see in me?"

"Yes…why?"

"Uh…oh nothing. I thought I had gained some weight…" She took a sit next to her friend and looked at the baby. "Sora, we have to go shopping. Are you free today?"

"I was going to Matt's…maybe we could go and introduce the baby. They're all going to be there and after that, we could go shopping with Kari…" Mimi looked at her hands and thought for a minute. She didn't want to see him… she wasn't ready to face him…

"Do we really have to go to Matt's place?"

"If you don't want to, its ok; but more than somebody will see you in the mall and probably run to Matt-"

"Oh Sora!" She said lifting both of her hands in the air, "You always wash my brain!" Sora just laughed at her comment, knowing that there was always a way, to make Mimi do, what she didn't wanted to. "Come on, help me unpack."

As Mimi folded her clothes and placed them on the closet, Sora helped by folding the baby's clothes.

"So… are you going to install the baby in here, or in the guest's room?" Mimi took her finger and placed it over her chin while thinking.

"Umm… I'd like her close if anything ever happened, but I'd like to have some privacy too…"

"I think it'd be better if you leave her in the other room and use one of those "baby walkie talkie" things."

"Mmm… That's a good idea!" Mimi answered brightly, "For that, and for the other things, you definitively have to go shopping with me."

Sora looked at her friend a little scared, "Mimi…what…are you planning to buy?"

"Not many things… I'll give you the list with the things I need." She walked into the living room and searched inside her purse for the list she had written earlier that day. She went back and handed it to Sora. "Here, I wrote it in the plane" Sora took the paper and read it aloud:

"Crib, blankets, pillows, etc, stroller, car seat-" She looked up to her friend, "Mimi, why do you want a car sit…you don't even have a car!"

"I know Sora, but I'm planning on buying one"

"And where are you taking the money from?" She asked and sat next to Mimi.

"I have the money mom had in the bank, the money the government gives me for taking care of the baby; the money dad gives me and the money from the house"

"What house?"

"I sold the house we had in the States…" Sora looked into her friend's eyes searching for any sign.

"Then you're a millionaire!" Mimi laughed and laid her head on her friend's shoulder.

"I'm not millionaire… I have to find a way of working and earning money-"

"But you don't need to work!"

"I know Sora, but there's no way I'm entering college with Marie and the baby-" Sora grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away. She looked into her eyes and saw some nervousness...

She calmly asked, "Mimi, is there something you're not telling me?"

"No… why? I mean… would I hide something from you?"

Eyeing her suspiciously, "You mentioned Marie AND a baby… you're not-" but Mimi didn't let Sora finish her sentence.

"I meant Marie, THE baby…" she said looking straight into her friend's eyes, a warm smile on her lips.

"Ok, if you say so…" Sora didn't know what was going on with Mimi, but knew her too well to know she was hiding something. "…playard, bouncer, walker, bottles, high chair, bassinet, changing table, crib toys, toys, more toys, furniture & room stuff… clothes, diapers, milk, food… Mimi, are you really planning to buy all these!?" Mimi looked at her shocked friend and nodded her head. "But why so much? Half of her clothes will be too small next month!"

"Sora, just relax…I think your little wedding issue is driving you a bit… umm… tense" Sora looked at her and just moved her arms up and down. Mimi stood up, walked out of the room into the living room and brought little Marie with her. She sat next to Sora and played with her baby.

"Mommy, I think aunt Sora is a bit stressed" Said Mimi pretending to talk like a baby.

"You think so honey?" She asked Marie and kept on with her monologue… "Aunt Sora's a big girl now" "And she's marrying uncle Tai?" "Yes she is" "And are they having many babies?" "About 11" "And why doesn't she mind her 11 babies instead of me?" "Well… she likes to control other peoples…brain!" she teased with a frightening voice.

"Mimi, cut that off!" Yelled Sora without hiding her smile.

"Sorry, but I couldn't help myself. Could you watch Marie while I shower?"

"Sure" she answered and Mimi gave her Marie. She walked to the closet and came back with some diapers, a blanket and clothes. A big grin came across her face as she handed Sora everything she'll need...

"Today, you'll start practicing for your 11 kids"

"But Mimi I…" She looked down at Marie who was clapping and playing with her tiny feet.

"No buts Sora." Sora looked back at her friend who was walking towards the closet; closing one door and opening the other before grabbing a towel.

"Mimi?" Sora called making her turn around at once…maybe too fast…

As she tried to focus on Sora's face, everything in the room spun around and turned into a blur. She held herself into one of the closet's handles and slowly slid to the floor. A fading voice called her name as darkness enveloped her sight…

Hey! How did you like that?

What's going to happen with Mimi?!

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