I couldn't believe my eyes! I honestly couldn't! When I opened the door the next day, there stood my Uncle Sub, decked out in a clean and neatly ironed suit, polished shoes, and an even haircut. He even smelled of cologne instead of adventurer's sweat. In every family, there was at least one relative who was weird (in this case, it was Aunt Jenny), and a normal one. I think I just found him.

"And are you Yokkaichi?" he asked.

Wow! A normal sentence.

"Y-yes," I stuttered.

"It's great to see you again!" he said pulling me into a hug.

"Again?"

"Yeah," he said backing away to examine me, "The last time I saw you, you were much smaller. About 5 or 6."

"Has it really been that long?" I didn't remember him from when I was 5. Or 6.

He nodded.

"Is he here already?" asked mom coming down the stairs. I had to admit, she looked great, even if it was just for dinner. She was wearing a black and pink Idol Ribbon Dress with Cores Ribbon Boots. My dad followed after her wearing a suit, but looking extremely uncomfortable in it. Dad only wore the suit when taking mom out for a fancy dinner and show. He told me he put up with the suit so mom could have a good time (awwww...). Then he'd go on to describe the specific places where it itched (sigh, dad never changes.)

"Nice to see you again Sub," said dad shaking his hand.

I couldn't believe that either. Dad hated to shake hands. He rather, preferred to slug them in the arm and see if they can take it. He never did that to a woman, thank Morrighan.

Dad looked over at me, "Cute dress Yokka."

I smiled. I was weraing my best and favorite dress: a see-through cocktail dress with light pink netting. This dress was meant for fancier occasions, but I wore it anyway because even at 16, I still craved my dad's approval.

"Well," said mom gesturing toward the dining room, "Shall we?"

After a fantastic dinner of grilled chicken breast with a squeeze of lemon and steamed broccoli and asparagus, mom went to the kitchen to get dessert. It was just dad, Uncle Sub, and I in uncomfortable silence.

So far, I learned that Uncle Sub is a trader and frequently went overseas, thus why he didn't visit often. He told us how mom was a rebel girl before she met dad and he was the only one she would willingly listen to.

"What about dad?" I asked.

"Oh, he was wildly popular. Every girl wanted to date him. And I wouldn't blame them, he was quite the looker."

Dad laughed, "How embarrassing! But it's true."

I couldn't even imagine what my dad looked like in high school.

At that moment, mom came back with dessert, "Alrighty! Who has room for gigantic chocolate chip cookies and ice cream!?"

"I do!" I said, my little girl side taking over.

"I," said my dad raising his hand.

Just then Uncle Sub fell out of his chair and slowly cowered to the walls, "Jad!" he said.

"Oh...that's right," said mom frowning, "You don't like chocolate chip cookies do you?"

He shook his head.

Remember what I said about every family having a weird relative and a normal one? I spoke too soon.

"Who can hate chocolate chip cookies?" asked dad taking a cookie from the plate and waving it under Uncle Sub's nose.

Uncle Sub swatted dad's hand away, "Get that offensive food away from me!"

Wow, I thought, what did the cookies do to him?

Dad retreated his hand and Uncle Sub got up from the floor and regained his posture and composure.

"If you don't mind, I'll just have mint ice cream."

"Sure," said mom holding up her scooper, "One or two scoops?"

"Surprise me," he said sitting down.

Since it was raining outside, everyone sat inside, and the cafeteria was quickly becoming crowded. Personally, Cinnamon and I wouldn't have mind if we sat outside, but we left our rain coats back home.

During lunch, I told my friends everything about Uncle Sub and Aunt Neema and Anaid. Once I finished, they sat in stunned silence.

"Quite a family you have there," Hasenoo finally said.

"Agreed," I said with a nod, "I'm almost afraid to go home in case of another surprise relative attack."

Kaitlyn laughed, "I'll go home with you, then."

"Actually, that sounds nice. I'd enjoy the company," I replied with a smile.

Cinnamon tugged on his blazer sleeve, "Well moving off the topic of weird relatives, did you guys hear what happened in Alby Arena?"

"Oh yeah!" said Kaitlyn, "They are such cheaters! They should definitely be banned."

I tuned out their conversation and poked at my garden fresh salad for the rest of the lunch period.

"Thanks for walking with me," I said once Kaitlyn and I reached my house.

"No problem," she said, "See you tomorrow!"

"See you."

As she started walking toward her house, I fished out my house keys from my inventory bag and opened the door.

When I got inside, it was quiet. Mom and dad were probably out somewhere. No surprise. I looked around for the usual note and money for dinner.

Once I found it (under a vase filled with lilies, mom's favorite flower), I opened it up, expecting to find the usual 'We went out. Money for dinner.' note. Instead, the note said:

Go to Tara. Erkskin Runway.

It wasn't even written in mom's elegant handwriting. The Erkskin Runway was at the far end of the city, Tara. It was where fashion contests were held. Preliminaries every day from 8:00 p.m. to 9. Those who won 1st or 2nd place got a pass to the final contest on Imbolic (Sunday). After everyone struts their stuff down the runway, two people were selected for winners. One for winning the popularity contest overall, and another for having their outfit most coordinated with the theme. The winner's got an exclusive reward (usually rare clothes), and a bigger sized model of themselves on a platform in every town in Uladh (except Tir Chonaill and Bangor).

I decided to leave immediately, even though it was far from eight-o-clock. Taking my horse to Emain Macha and getting to Tara; it was one of the only two cities in Uladh that allowed flying pets. I summoned my broom and flew to the Erkskin Runway. Once I landed, a gaggle of girls and a few boys surrounded the runway and the Fashion Contest coordinator.

I found mom and hurried towards her, "What's going on?" I asked her.

"Everyone wants to do a practice fashion show before the preliminaries. The coordinator's overwhelmed so she says to form groups of eight."

"Are you in a group?"

Mom nodded, "Yep, with my friend, Ray."

Mom pointed to another elf with tanned skin, and short peach-colored hair wearing a peach-colored Arabian Night Costume. She was excitedly talking to a few more elves and some humans.

"Am I supposed to try out?" I asked turning back to face mom.

Mom shook her head, "Nope. But Zero's not coming until late at night and I didn't want you to feel lonely."

I wasn't about to point out that every time they went out, I did feel kind of lonely. Kenomi and Odehima were almost never there, and Joy didn't really talk to me anymore.

"Hey Jad!" shouted ray, "We're going on right now!"

"I'm coming!" mom shouted back, then she turned back to me, "I've decided to enter fashion contests again."

When I was born, mom quit fashion contests to help raise me. Even after I could start taking care of myself, she didn't turn back to fashion contests.

"Okay," I said, "Go have fun mom."

"Are you sure sweetie?"

I nodded and smiled. Mom bent down to hug me, then quickly joined Ray.

I was glad to see after so many years, mom was starting to have fun again.

Going through some problems right now, so sorry for the long wait ;

Double updates this time.