Prologue

"Mama Used to Say"

"This field never lets up on its beauty." A woman's voice shrilled with intrigue. She took a deep breath and smiled "We picked a nice spot wouldn't you say Lucy?"

"Huh?" A young child trotted behind the mother.

"I said, don't you think this would be a nice place to have our little picnic?"

"Yeah. I guess so…" Lucy looked away. Her aloof response caused her mother to worry a bit

Vivian Hare was an easy going woman despite her high profile career as a prosecutor in Corneria. She always wanted to enjoy what time she had with her family consisting of her husband Paul 'Peppy' Hare and her 12 year old daughter Lucy.

She had a picnic basket slinging off her forearm as she hand a cotton blanket bundled up under her other arm. "This looks like a good spot." Vivian placed the basket down and shook the spread to spread it out over the lush green grass. "Hey Lucy? Silly girl, pay attention. Food!" Vivian shook her head and let out a giggle while giving the basket a slight shake from side to side.

"Huh? Sorry." Lucy was never this distant with her mother. She decided to finally sit down with beside Vivian

"So, nice place huh? Not many people know about this little treasured spot of mine. I used to come here with Nana when I was your age now." Vivian opened up the picnic basket and placed some of the contents between her and Lucy

"Really?" Lucy looked at Vivian puzzled

"Yup. And we would talk about anything that was troubling us both." Vivian handed her daughter a small square container which seemed to have some variety of salad in it as well as a plastic fork. "Here."

"Thanks." Lucy opened the Tupperware and dove straight for the salad without saying another word.

"Ehhh…I was hoping that would lead into more conversation." Vivian grabbed another container with the same salad "Oh before I start eating, might as well take these off. These shoes are KILLING me."

"-munch munch- I don't get why you wear shoes like that if they hurt your feet." Lucy commented in between bites.

Vivian finished taking off her shoes "It's called fashion dear. When you get into dating and such you'll see you'll want to pick beauty over comfort. Speaking of dating…Is there any boy that you're interested in?"

"Nice transition Mama." Lucy rolled her eyes causing Vivian to crack a wide grin

"Hey don't change the subject. Answer my question." Vivian started to dig in to her own salad

Lucy sighed "I guess so." She finished her dish first and placed the container back in the basket.

"You 'guess so'? Hmm? Did you ever tell him anything to let him know?" Vivian continues to eat

"No. He's in a different class than I am. But I do like him." Lucy lied down on the spread and stared up at the sky.

It was a sea of blue, cloudless and gorgeous. Solar's rays weren't as bothersome as one may have thought in a cloudless sky but for some odd reason the weather was picture perfect. Lucy began to let her eyes flutter as she wanted to rest under the silhouette of this peaceful environment.

"Alright! Time for dessert. Lucy, I hope you have some room for some parfait." Vivian looked over Lucy's way on the opposite side of the blanket. "You sleepy?"

Lucy turned to her mother's side and propped her head with her hand "No. Almost wanted to though."

"Okay, when we finish these then we'll be on our way." Vivian hands Lucy a plastic cup with a beautiful layered yogurt parfait garnished with assorted berries and a plastic spoon. "So this boy that you're interested in, he's in a different class, could it be because he's going for a different path in the academy?"

"No, it's because he's older." Lucy simply replied

"Wha-! *ahem* We're talking about your age older by a couple of years at the most right? Not like a decade older right?" Vivian almost swallowed the plastic spoon

"No, he's only a couple of years older than me." Lucy continues to consume the parfait

Vivian's heart rate went down as soon as she heard Lucy finish "Whew. For a moment, I was going to have a heart attack. Well, how about…?"

Vivian stopped when she heard her phone ring. Lucy looked onward as she proceeded to pick it up. "Hare, here. Yes. Didn't I tell you that I was going to be busy?"

Lucy finished her parfait and looked around. Not that many people here .As she looked ahead she noticed a young doe and her child far off in the distance. They looked like they belong on the picture of a greeting card or post card with the smiles that were radiating from their faces. The mother and child frolicking in the meadow saddened Lucy briefly because she longed for that type of mother once more.

"I said I would not be taking any cases between now and the end of the year. My daughter is going to be promoted to the flight academy and I want to be there for her ceremony. This case would intervene." Vivian put down her half-consumed parfait. Her expression was once tainted with a scowl to a state of tunnel vision. "Really now? Now you're talking my language!"

"…" Lucy simply sighed. Great, she's taking more work. She probably won't make it to my promotion ceremony.

"Haha! That's wonderful. Sign me up! You just tell the defense that they'd better run while they still have the chance." Vivian laughed "Remember no bail, no plea bargain. Okay…Alright…Bye."

With the press of a button Vivian ended the call.

"Yet another case Mama?" Lucy sighed

"Yes. But I have some good news and some great news about it." Vivian looked over towards her sulking daughter "Good news? This is an open and shut case. Great news? I'll still be able to make it to your ceremony."

"Oh." Lucy rose up from her previous position. She's sitting upwards with her legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles.

"'Oh?' You know I'd thought you would at least be happy as another case meant more money in the bank for us but especially you." Vivian picked her parfait back up to finish it really quickly "You ready?"

"Yeah." Lucy got up quickly and sidestepped onto the grass adjacent to the blanket. Vivian got off the blanket and moved the basket aside.

"Help me fold this will ya hon?" Vivian grabbed the two edges of the blanket on her side. Lucy nodded and did the same on her side. The two ladies successfully folded up the spread nice and neat. Vivian placed it on top of the basket and carried the set of items in her arms. "Well it's about time we head home cowgirl." Vivian nudged her seemingly stoic daughter. "We should be home before Solar sets."

Lucy continued to walk a couple of paces ahead of her mother.

Vivian looked at her daughter as she walks towards the car. Oh great job Vivian, another mother-daughter moment turned awkward. She really didn't open up to me about her boy troubles. I think I should tell her something else. Ah, I know!

"Lucy? Wait for me!" Vivian skipped a pace or two to be beside Lucy "Say, are you really interested in this older boy?"

"Ummm yeah. I don't know why this is so important all of a sudden."

"Because… The two ladies had arrived at the car. With the click of her key remote Vivian opened the trunk to put the basket and blanket inside. She slammed the trunk shut and continued "I don't want you to bottle up your emotions. That's the worst thing you can do to yourself you hear?"

Vivian put her hands on her daughter's shoulder. Lucy's cheeks turned a light tinge of red. "Yes, Mama."

"Just let him know how you feel and the rest will be history." Vivian offered a warm and motherly smile to her daughter "So, what's his name?"

"Ah!" Lucy turned away from her mother in hopes of hiding the now vibrant blush that invaded her face

"Is it that embarrassing? Come on tell me!" Vivian laughs while rocking her daughter back and forth gently

"Mama, promise if I tell you…You won't tell Papa." Lucy pleaded

"Hmmm…" Vivian took her hands off of Lucy's shoulders "Let me hear the name first then I'll see if I can promise you."

"It's Fox McCloud." She rushed through in a low whisper

"What? I didn't hear you." Vivian stepped closer to Lucy

"I said…it's Fox McCloud."

"You don't have to worry about your secret. It's safe with me." Vivian gently caresses her child's head "Well, when it comes to Papa. But you never said I couldn't tell Fox himself!" Vivian digs out her cell phone from her pocket "I think I'll give him a call right now."

"Whaaaa-! No!" Lucy squealed "Mama, don't do that!"

"Oooooohoho! This is so cute!" Vivian giggled while fumbling with the phone. Lucy desperately trying to knock the phone out of her mother's hand caused Vivian to take off running around the car.

"Mama! Stop!" Lucy gave chase behind her

"What!" Vivian couldn't control her maniacal laughter while circling the car "I think I'll call James too while I'm at it. He'll think this is so cute."

"No! Mama, stop!" I knew I shouldn't have told her anything. Lucy was determined to catch her mother before she opened her mouth to anyone else.

"Hahahaha!" Vivian stopped when she arrived at the driver's door after circling it several times. Caught Lucy in an embrace when they were about to collide "I'm only kidding hon. I wouldn't do that to you." Vivian continues to laugh

Lucy frowned up and shook away from Vivian.

"Hey you shouldn't frown like that. You'll get all sorts of unsightly wrinkles. Then Fox wouldn't want to be with you." Vivian laughed once more

Lucy still unforgiving retorts "Why should I take your word Mama? You're a lawyer. Don't you lie for a living?"

Vivian was aghast "Hey, I'm your mother. I would lie to anyone on this planet except for you and Paul because I love you both. You're my family. Come here and give me a hug."

Lucy hesitated at first but slowly inched her way back to her mother. One thing Vivian liked to do was to have everyone around her smiling outside of her profession.

Vivian took in a deep sigh as she held the embrace. "You know I love you right?"

A muffled 'Yes' came out of Lucy

"I just want you to enjoy life but don't grow up too fast, okay hon?" Vivian placed a kiss on Lucy's forehead "Alright then, get in the car, buckle up and get ready to head on home."

Lucy nodded and trotted off to the other side of the car. As she was entering the passenger's side, Vivian cleared her throat. All of that loud laughter really got the best in me. Throat feels really scratchy.

Then a light cough. Vivian placed her hand on the door handle and gave it a light squeeze before

"…-cough, hack, cough-…" A persistent cough interrupted her current action. Vivian turned her back towards the car "…-COUGH, RETCH, WHEEZE, COUGH!-..." Vivian placed a hand over her mouth to muffle out the sound of the violent series of coughs

"…!" When Vivian took her hand away from her mouth there was a splash of crimson on her pastel green colored hand. What the hell? Vivian slightly turns her head towards Lucy's direction. Oh No.I'd better keep quiet about this. I don't want her to worry about me. But this is the second time this happened. Nothing to fear, I'll just go to the hospital with Paul when we get back.

Meanwhile, Lucy ponders what her mother was taking so long to get into the car. She's been like that for five minutes. Maybe I should get out and ask her what's wrong?

Oh God, this could be serious. Okay Viv, just drive home and act like nothing happened. I got to put on a brave face for my daughter. "…!" Vivian's train of thought was broken by the opening of a car door. "Lucy!"

Lucy began to step fully out of the car "Mama? Is everything alright? I was wondering why you weren't getting in the car yet?" Lucy was going to pace around the car when she stopped abruptly

"J-Just get back in the car! I was thinking about something that's all. You know your mother can't decide what to make for dinner and your Papa's a pretty picky eater. Hehe…" She forced a chuckle "Everything's okay hon so just get back in the car." Vivian finally turned around to face Lucy. She opened her door and got in.

I can't let her see my hand. Vivian watched as Lucy was getting in the car. She wiped her hand on her skirt. Fortunately, it was a dark color so it wouldn't jump out. The only downside was that the smell of blood would still linger. Vivian only hoped that her daughter as young and inexperienced of life as she is wouldn't be able to pick up the scent.

Lucy picked up something on her mother's face. It looked as if she were about to break down right there in the car. So she asked once more "Is something the matter Mama?"

Vivian shook off the feeling of wanting to tell her daughter what just happened. But she did something she, only moments ago told her daughter she would never do to her, lie. "Nothing's wrong, Lucy. Absolutely nothing. Everything's going to be just fine. Now let's go home."

Vivian turned the key into the ignition, shifted into gear and drove home with a look of self-assurance but the mental state of all the insecurities in the world.

~Prologue end