A/N
Heyyyy again, readers. A little something different from Kuro this time! Again, this will include a song, soooo, take some time now to go to my profile and copy down that link! Other than that, READ ON!
Thirteen years. Thirteen long years have passed, along with her. All of my memories about her are kind of faint, but I can still remember them as if they had happened just yesterday. My sisters seem to know a little more of her than me, which is why I'm able to remember so much. But…. Ever since we came to America… I've been learning bit by tiny bit about her, the one who inspires me to be the maternal one of the group. My mother.
"Eleanor... are you sure you want to do this? I don't want to see you end up crying again."
"No no... I need to do this, Jeanette. I promise i'll be fine. Just save me some breakfast, okay? I promise i'll be back as soon as possible."
"Okay Ellie. We'll meet you there."
Fourteen year old Eleanor Miller hung up her phone and let out a soft sigh. She rose up to her feet and took a minute to stretch. Her brilliant, chocolate brown eyes shut tight as she did so, a slight groan escaping her lips.
'Oh... without the money, I won't be able to make the trip. I'd never leave without Brittany or Jeanette, nor would they leave me. Looks like I'll be doing things a little different this year.' she thought.
Slowly, she glanced at the clock hanging up on the wall. 11:40 was displayed. She made her way outside of her room, grabbing a picture frame before she closed her door. Eleanor was heading towards the backyard, when she was stopped by a familiar voice.
"Ellie? Where are ya goin' so early darling? You're usually still asleep by now!"
Eleanor turned to see Ms. Miller, the caregiver that had taken in her and her sisters some years ago. "It's that time again, Ms. Miller. I shouldn't take very long." Eleanor replied. Instead of a crazy response, as could be expected from the elderly woman, she simply nodded her head. "Alright. Bring a sweater, it's a little chilly out today." she said.
The green wearing chipette grabbed her forest green colored sweater off the back of a chair and waved to Ms. Miller as she went outside. She went barefoot, the short grass tickling the soles of her feet. A slighty cold breeze blew through her hair, neatly held in swaying, blond pigtails. Eleanor approached a tall standing tree, the tallest in the backyard, and slowly got to her knees.
She placed down the picture frame and looked at it with watery eyes. On the picture, was a picture of herself, Brittany, and Jeanette at five months old, sitting in the lap of an older chipette. Her fur was much like Eleanor's, although a little darker. Her eyes were a little odd, one being a bright blue and the other an emerald green. She had brown hair with few blond streaks in it, held neatly in a single ponytail. A smile was on her face as she cradled the three baby chipettes protectively in her arms. Eleanor wiped her eyes on her sleeve and sniffled.
"H-Happy birthday Mama. Everything's been going great this year. Um... I'm doing pretty good in school, and I'm making friends just like you wanted! I really wish I could introduce them to you, but I know you can see them just like I can. And... I have a little crush, Mommy. I know you kept saying that I'll find my perfect match one day, and I think I have. His name's Theodore, and we have so much in common!" she spoke, fighting back tears as she spoke to the photo. The wind picked up a little, playing with her pigtails as she continued to speak.
"I'm also taking your advice and being motherly, even though I might take it a little too far sometimes..." she stopped and slumped her shoulders, body quivering as a few tears streamed down her cheeks. "I really wish you could be here right now..." she whispered, trying to quiet herself. "I still think of the last time I saw you..."
*~Flashback~*
"C'mon Ma! We're almost there!"
"Alright, alright, calm yourself down, ya hear? Don't want ya to end up hurtin' yourself, now do we?"
A five month old Eleanor stopped in her tracks and turned to face her mother, who had finally caught up with the three little chipettes, each of the little ones wearing a white diaper. She wore blue jeans that were fading the closer you got to the ankles, and her shirt was a simple, bright green t-shirt with her name, Jannali, in black letters. She slumped over, resting her paws on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
"Whoo... You three really know how to tire a girl out, don't you?" Jannali asked as she picked up the three chipettes into her loving arms. Little Jeanette fixed her glasses onto her face, which were much too big for her face, and squinted. "Where we going?" she asked.
Jannali looked down at her and helped adjust her big glasses. "Just gonna visit a friend of mine, my dear Jeannie." she answered before breaking into a coughing fit. She ended up doubling over just a little before she straightened herself out. When her eyes opened again, her three daughters were staring at her in surprise.
"That's a pretty bad cough, Ma. You should go and get it checked." Brittany said, brushing her hair from in front of her eyes with a little paw. "D-Don't worry, sugar plum. Mama's gonna get herself checked as soon as she can." Jannali said, clearing her throat. "But you're gonna be okay, right?" Brittany asked, her light blue eyes growing wide.
"Of course. I promise." was her answer. "And Mama? How come we don't see Daddy anymore?" Jeanette asked. Jannali stopped in her tracks and looked down at Jeanette. "Sweetie pie... we don't talk about that, remember? Mommy doesn't like talking about it." she spoke. Jeanette's gaze went down to the ground as her mother continued walking. She ducked under a few branches as she neared the end of the large forest. Several minutes of silence passed before Eleanor spoke up.
"Mommy... why are we outside so late?" she asked, looking up at the starry night sky, her eyes immediately fixed upon the full moon. Her chocolate brown eyes widened as she tried counting the stars hung up in that deep black sky.
Jannali stopped again as the sound of rustling leaves rang through the undergrowth. Everything seemed to stop as Jannali's arms crossed over her children. "Shhh..." she warned, keeping the three hidden as she steadily inched forward.
A young girl stepped forward. She looked around twelve years old with fair skin. Her blond hair went down neatly around her face. Greenish-brown eyes seemed to sparkle in the moonlight as they fixed upon Jannali. She smiled, revealing clean white teeth. "Jann! You're doing good, I hope!" she said.
Jannali shrugged her shoulders and showed the three baby chipettes in her arms. "Olivia, my dear girl... I have an important favor to ask of you..." she started.
The three little girls could barely hear anything besides the sounds of their own voices as they tried to make out what their mother was saying.
"Who do you think Mama's talking to? And what's she saying?" Eleanor kept asking, nudging Brittany's side.
Brittany let out an annoyed whine and adjusted her diaper, her ears raised up as she tried to listen closer. "Shh! I'm trying to find out!" she muttered. A groan came from her as she failed in attempt. "Oh... I just can't hear anything!" She complained.
"At least you can still see! I'm ... uhhh... ummmm..." Jeanette started, only to quiet down and frown when she lost her train of thought. "Oh poop. I forgot." she concluded, closing her eyes.
Eleanor gasped in a breath of fresh air as Jannali uncovered her. She looked to her mother with a smile, which quickly went away as she saw the look on Jannali's face. Her mother's eyes seemed to be glazed over, watering just a little at the corners. The little chipette tried to comfort Jannali by burying her face in her fur.
W-What's wrong, Ma? Are you alright?" she asked.
Without answering, Jannali handed her daughters over into Olivia's soft arms. "Please, take good care of them." She spoke, her voice quivering.
"Of course... I promise. Are you sure there's nothing else we can do?" Olivia asked as she produced a plain white blanket from behind her, just big enough to cover the three kids. "I'm sure of it. I've done all I can. It's all up to you now, Olivia." Jannali answered, planting a kiss on each of her daughter's heads. A tear rolled down her cheek, which Eleanor wiped away. "Please don't cry anymore, Mommy..." she pleaded.
Jannali shook her head. "Eleanor, I want you to be a big girl for mama. Keep an eye out for your sisters while I'm gone. I'll try to make my way back to you. Just promise me you'll be a good caretaker, okay?" she said, looking Eleanor right in the eyes.
Little Ellie whimpered and nodded, completely unsure of what was going on. She gently touched her mother's nose. "I pwomise..." she said.
The older chipette looked to Brittany and Jeanette, whispering in their ears and giving them both a gentle kiss on the cheek and forehead. "I love all three of you, all the same, and I hope to see you again really soon." she whispered, moving away as another bout of coughing took over.
"They're in good hands, Ms. Jannali. I promise I'll do whatever I can to keep them all safe and sound." Olivia spoke before turning away from the coughing chipette. Once she had regained her bearing, Jannali waved slowly, her eyes streaming tears. "Bye my darling babies! Live out your dreams! Be good girls!" she cried before turning away and running.
"W-Wait!" Brittany shrieked, reaching towards her fleeing mother. "Mama! Don't leave! Please don't!" Jeanette begged, her eyes welling up with tears. "C-C-COME BACK!" Eleanor cried. The three began wailing in Olivia's arms as they were carried further and further away from their mother, who turned to look at them one last time, and was off.
*~End Flashback~*
Eleanor had broken down crying again, hugging the picture of her deceased mother close to her chest. "I'm doin' it all for you, Ma... It's just so hard sometimes..."
"But it doesn't have to be..." Eleanor jumped at the sound of Jeanette's soft voice. She turned to see both her older sisters crouched down next to her, each with a hand on her shoulder. Whimpering, Eleanor wrapped her arms around Brittany, hugging her tightly as Jeanette did the same to her. "W-Why'd she have to go and leave us like that?" she asked.
Brittany sighed and caressed the back of Eleanor's head. "It was for the best, Ellie. If we had stayed with her, we'd probably be dead too..." she spoke with a soothing tone. Eleanor sniffled and quickly wiped her eyes, trying to hold in the rest of her sorrowful tears. "You guys remember that race around the world we had a few years ago?" she asked.
"Say no more, El. We already know, and we're ready whenever you are." Brittany answered, taking Eleanor's hand into hers. Jeanette did the same, giving Eleanor a reassuringly warm smile. "On four." she said.
A grin crept along Eleanor's face as she rubbed her eyes dry on her sleeve. "Okay... One... Two... Three... Four..."
(Play the song NOW.)
The three girls finished their song and gave each other tight hugs, sighing in the warm embraces as they pulled away. Each of them planted a kiss on the picture of their mom before standing up and walking inside the Miller's house.
Once inside, they took off their sweaters and tossed them aside, sitting down on the couch and turning on the TV. "Girls! Make sure you pick those up!" Ms. Miller's voice came from the kitchen. "We will!" Eleanor answered. "I don't smell anything cooking... what's she doing in there?" Jeanette asked.
"Beats me, Ms. Miller's always doing crazy things." Brittany replied. She looked at Eleanor, who had suddenly let out a sigh. "You okay, sis?" she asked. Eleanor nodded and yawned. "I think I'm going to go back to sleep, though." she said.
"Are you sure? Ms. Miller might actually be making something this time." Brittany asked. "I'll be fine. Just save me something, like usual." was Eleanor's reply. The blond haired chipette was asleep soon after, muttering the same words every now and then.
"My Mother, that's who I need... My Mother, that's who I need..."
A/N
Sooo! Review your thoughts, little readers! This will conclude in the next chapter! KRS, Out!
