Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or its characters. I do however own the plot.

Chapter 1

"Never gone, never far

In my heart is where you are"

She was sitting on her bed hunched over her drawing vigorously engrossed into making sure it was perfect. She never gets it right, this was her fifth attempt. No matter how hard she tries she can never get the gleam of happiness her mother's eyes always possessed. Even when she was sick from chemotherapy, it was always there, slightly dulled but there nevertheless. She sighs and crumples the drawing up throwing it in the waste bin by her door. Before she attempts to start over again she hears a faint knocking on her door, pausing her ipod she calls, "Who is it?" Stupid question, she thinks hoping for the millionth time that her mother would be the one to answer her even though she knows that she is gone and never coming back.

"It's me honey, are you ready to go?" her father, Keisuke responds glad that she is finally talking to him.

"No." Today is the day she's supposed to say her final goodbye to her mother. She really doesn't want to go, she isn't sure she can handle it. But at the same time she loved her mom and she needs to be there to see her mother finally at peace, no she loves her mom she corrects herself mentally. Just because Satoe died doesn't mean Mimi will ever stop loving her.

"Mimi it's time. If we don't go now we're gonna be late." Sighing she slides off her bed and lands on her feet with a light thump. She smoothed out the wrinkles from her dress and slipped on her black flats. Before her father could call again, she opened the door and walked silently past him keeping her eyes on the floor, she couldn't bear to look at him. People always told her she looked like her mom and it used to make her happy now it just made her feel guilty, she couldn't hurt him anymore by reminding him of what he lost, not today.

He pats her shoulder softly, "let's go" he mumbles as he leads her down the stairs. Mimi pauses when she reaches the bottom looking for her purse, she remembers leaving it on the side table. Tears start pooling in her eyes as she spots their family photo. She wonders how she'll be able to make it through today if she can't even get out of her house without crying.

Wondering why she stopped he follows her gaze and sees why she is rubbing her eyes, trying to rid herself of her tears. "Come on honey," he ushers her out the door and into the car. In the car she grabs some tissue and wipes her eyes, she needs to calm down, for her father's sake. The drive to the church is silent; she looks out the window at the passing scenery wondering how long until she can just go back to her room and start her drawing again. Her father glances at her occasionally, wishing she would talk to him. He doesn't want her to bottle up her feelings, in order to heal she needs to talk about this.

When they finally arrive at their destination she slowly opens the door and takes in the massive church before her. Her mother wasn't a conventional churchgoer, she would go to many different churches because she liked to hear the different views but this was the church she frequented the most. Her mom admired the beautiful architecture and thought the stain glass windows were astonishing. Mimi sometimes went on her church escapades and knew her mom loved this one the best.

The memorial was nothing but a blur to Mimi. She just couldn't seem to focus on what was being said. Her eyes were glued to the white casket in the front of the church, and to the picture of her mother hanging next to it with the words 'In loving memory ~ Satoe Tachikawa' engraved on the frame. She wishes more than anything that she could go back in time, before they found out her mother had cancer and just stay there, frozen. She was knocked out of her haze when she felt her father gently tap her forearm. She looks around noticing the priest's eyes on her and she realizes it is her turn to speak.

Her father stands up and offers his hand to her, she gently places her hand in his and they both walk up to the alter. When the reach it, Keisuke pulls his daughter in for a hug and then walks back down to his seat. Mimi looks around at all the people here to grieve for her mother, some she knew and some she didn't. They were all staring back at her with faces full of sympathy. She looks back to her mother's picture trying to suppress the inevitable tears as she remembers the day it was taken.

Mimi was having such a nice dream. She was in the digiworld, primary village, to be specific, with Palmon. They decided to give Elecmon a break and watch over the new digimon. Mimi was so happy to see Palmon again, even if it was just in a dream. She hadn't seen her in a long time. But her dream started fading away when she felt someone shaking her shoulder. She cracked her left eye open and saw her mom and dad leaning over her. Her mom was holding a cupcake with an unlighted candle sticking out of it. Mimi grinned as she heard the familiar background music start playing and her parents getting ready to sing.

"You say it's your birthday

It's my birthday too, yeah

They say it's your birthday

We're gonna have a good time

I'm glad it's your birthday

Happy birthday to you…"

Mimi was cracking up by the time they finished the song. It was tradition on her birthdays, ever since she could remember, for her parents to wake her up singing Birthday by The Beatles.

Keisuke took the cupcake from his wife's hand and lit it with a lighter before placing it in front of Mimi. "Make a wish sweetie," her mom said excitedly.

Mimi closed her eyes thinking hard about what she wanted to wish for. Once she decided she opened her eyes and blew out the candle. When she opened her eyes her father had his arms outstretched with a wrapped box in his hands, "Time for presents." Taking the box she eagerly ripped off the wrapping paper. She pulled off the lid and gasped when she saw three tickets to Fiji inside. "We already have our tickets, the extra two are for Brooke and Abby. We already called their parents and asked and they said they can go, now you just have to call and tell them."

"Really? Thank you so much!"

"We called to see if Sora could go but her mother said she already had plans." Mimi was disappointed that Sora couldn't go, she really missed her. But she didn't want to dampen her parents cheerful mood so she quickly put a smile on her face.

"Oh, well its ok. I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun with Brooke and Abby too"

Satoe pulled a box from behind her back and placed it in Mimi's hands, "This coordinates with the trip." Mimi had no idea what it could be so she tore the side of the paper and slid the box out. Squealing, she jumped into her mother's arms and hugged her tightly, "Thank you momma."

"You're welcome baby," when her mom let go she jumped into her father's arms and hugged him just as tight.

"Thank you Daddy. You guys are the best parents ever!"

"Mimi you should call your friends and tell them the good news"

"Ok," she gave her mom one last hug before she grabbed her cell phone from her nightstand to call them.

"You will not believe what my parents got me for my birthday! They bought me a brand new camera so when me, you and Brooke go to Fiji we can take pictures of everything" Satoe and Keisuke smiled at their daughter's enthusiasm before they left the room so Mimi could give her friends all the details on the trip.

"No I haven't told Brooke yet, I was going to call her right now" was the last they heard before they closed the door behind them. Once Mimi was done telling them the good news she decided to test her new camera by taking random pictures. She got one of her cat Mo-Mo swatting at a fly, and one of her dad 'attempting' to cook but failing miserably seeing as there was splatters of food all over the counters and walls. Next Mimi went in search of her mother. She looked all around the house but couldn't find her, and then she remembered her mom had just bought some flowers to plant in her garden.

Mimi pulled on her rain boots and silently walked outside so as not to alert her mother that she was coming. She saw her mom digging a hole getting ready to plant a sweat pea. They were Satoe's favorite flower because they meant blissful and that was how she wanted her family to feel all the time, to be thankful for all that they have. Mimi wanted it to be a candid photo but her mother was always one step ahead of her. Before she could take it her mother looked up and smiled brightly at the camera as if Mimi had called her name.

It was her favorite picture of her mother. Mimi smiles slightly at the memory, finally ready to give her speech.

"My mother was the best mom anyone could ever have," her voice breaks slightly but she continues, "Whenever I was having a bad day she would do everything in her power to make me feel better. Whether that meant taking me shopping, making my favorite cookies, or just holding me while I cried. She would stick up for me, even when I was wrong. One of her favorite sayings was, 'A smile takes but a moment, but the memory of it lasts forever' and it always rang true. My mom had an ever-present smile on her face and that's how I'll always remember her. Even during her treatments, when I knew she was in pain, she found the strength to smile for my benefit and forever I'll admire her for that. She could find the good in anybody and help anyone who asked, even if she had only just met them. My mom was truly amazing and I'd give anything to have her back in my life." All the tears she held back finally break free leaving tears streaming down her face. She takes a tissue from her purse, wiping her eyes as she walks back to her seat. When she passes her mother's coffin she brushes her hand against its shiny exterior, "I love you, momma," and with that she heads back her seat.

The following week Mimi spends all her time in her room only leaving to go to school. She doesn't feel like doing anything anymore so she quits all her extracurricular activities: dance, cheerleading, and yearbook. Her friends try to talk to her but she just ignores them hoping that they will just leave her alone and let her grieve in peace. Keisuke can't stand to see her this way. She's been so despondent since the funeral, he doesn't blame her but at the same time he knows something needs to change quick before he loses her completely. This place has to many bad memories of what has happened and in order for them to move on they need to leave. He decides on going back to Japan, there were a lot of happy memories there and maybe Mimi's old friends can heal her and make her want to live again. It's a chance he's willing to take so he buys the tickets.

When Mimi gets home from school she takes off her shoes and makes her way up the stairs to her room. She is surprised to see that there are boxes all over the floor some labels read Mimi's Room. Wondering what is going on she heads to her father's study where his light is shining from under the door. She knocks on the door and starts to go inside when she hears he father's muffled "Come in."

"Dad, what's with all the boxes?" she asks, curiosity lacing her question.

"We're moving" he grunts as he lifts a particularly heavy box onto his desk.

"We can't!"

"We can, and we are. So can you please start packing," Keisuke says rubbing his eyes tiredly. He knows he shouldn't be so harsh with her but with his decision to move and then having to see how he was going to continue running his company, it had been a stressful day. He doesn't want to fight her but she can be so stubborn sometimes, just like her mother.

"No, we can't leave momma. I won't leave her." Mimi wants to cry but she can't she has to stand her ground. She doesn't understand why her father thinks it's a good idea to leave.

"Mimi you're mom isn't with us anymore. And I'm afraid that it'll be hard for you to move on if we stay here." He pushes up his glasses, something he does when he is in a frustrating situation.

"And where do you propose we go huh? Leaving won't make me forget what happened; in fact it'll be even worse. At least this way I can still visit her grave and feel somewhat close to her." Mimi feels bad that she is speaking to her father in such a tone. She knows her mother would be disappointed.

"We're going back to Japan; I never sold our old house so we can stay there. Think of all the great times we had there with your mom. Don't you think you'd rather be surrounded by happy memories than ones of her death?" he asks pleadingly hoping she'll see he's trying to do what's best for her.

"You can't make me go. I won't let you!" she screams at him pitifully knowing she can't win. She's still a minor and until she's of age she has to do what he says.

"This isn't up for discussion Mimi. We are leaving and that's final. This is for the best and you'll realize that once we get there." Mimi angrily turns on her heel and stomps out of the office slamming the door behind her.

Keisuke shudders as the door slams, his heart filling with despair. He hopes she won't be mad at him forever. Looking out the window he gazes at the clouds wondering if his wife is up there watching this all unfold. "Why did you leave me Satoe? How am I supposed to raise her on my own?" he shouts to the sky, wishing she would answer him back. Slumping in defeat he looks back up to the clouds, "I need you." Hearing her father plea to her mother makes Mimi burst into tears. With her back against the wall she slides down letting the tears consume her, not bothering to try to control them. She needs this, it reminds her that she's still alive.

AN: I looked up many different sites for a timeline on Mimi so I'm using that she was 10yrs old when she moved to New York. The quote used in the beginning is from the song Never Gone by The Backstreet Boys. I forgot to mention but I also don't own the song Birthday by The Beatles. Happy Birthday Julie! All reviews are appreciated :)