You guys, guess what! This story has surpassed my second best story, Stay With You, with over 6000+ hits! Never in my 6,448 days of living would I have thought I'd ever see the day come… Cool beans:D And soon enough it might pass its review stats too! I never thought, to ANY story I'd write, it would beat that story; but man, was I wrong! You guys rock!

I decided to write a short mother/son chapter. I dunno why, I just want to until I can get to another chapter and whatnot. On another note, I drew this picture of Ace and placed it on my DeviantArt page :D My roommates and friends say it's adorable, but I want the opinions of your guys, too. So if you guys have the chance (or if you want to), check him out. My account should be on my profile page.

Oooohs! I'd also want to thank Yani Cardaria for being my beta reader (All the colors….) I'm officially called Bad Grammar Girl! GO ME! Anyways, to the chapter!

Chapter 11

Drops of rain scattered the grounds of Baltimore, causing large puddles on sidewalks and small lakes at almost every edge. Inside the Larkin home, Mr. and Mrs. Larkin were in the living room, watching the late morning news about how long the rain was going to last.

Upstairs, Link was still in bed; the covers were up to his forehead, and only thing visible was his dark brown hair scattered all over his pillow. As he lay there, partially asleep, he wanted to flip over on his back; but Ace, his dog, was also sleeping soundly on top of him. Both of them seemed to snore in harmony; when Link inhaled, Ace exhaled by making a funny whistling noise with his nose. Link felt Ace roll over until he could feel something resting on his head; then wiggled around underneath the covers to adjust to the dog's sudden change in sleeping position.

For the past three weeks, Link and Seaweed promised Tracy and Penny that they would spend more time together with each other, other than all four of them hanging out collectively. The two had decided to have their "male bonding" days on Sundays. For the first two weeks the only thing they did was toss a football at each other at the park, just talking about regular guy stuff and why their girlfriends were making them do these types of things.

Last week they just hung around the record shop and played music while Seaweed's mother and sister were gone.

But this week, since it was raining they decided to just cancel and sleep in, which was a good thing for Link because he was still exhausted from his date with Tracy two nights ago.

Not that kind of exhausted mind you, it was the kind that was due to running around the fair with Tracy along with Penny and Seaweed because the fair was in town for only one night until August. They got on almost every ride imaginable and played every game at least once. Heck, they even risked their lives by eating the food! Link couldn't help but smile as he remembered Tracy's expression when he was dared by Seaweed to eat the odd looking "Sandwich Meat Surprise". He let out a soft chuckle and reburied his face into his pillow.

Mrs. Larkin slowly opened the door that led to Link's room and watched as he and Ace slept peacefully through the thunder and lightning that was occurring outside. She sighed depressingly as she reflected of how she witnessed her son grow all these years. She knew ever since his first 'I love you, Mommy' face that he was going to get all of the ladies, or as what he told her, be the 'Ladies' Choice'.

Next summer he'll probably be thinking about taking a road trip or going off to college, Mrs. Larkin thought sadly. She noticed that Ace woke up and his once limp tail started to wag manically at the sight of her. He stood up on the bed and faced Mrs. Larkin excitedly then jumping off the bed happily as he went to her, wanting her to pet him. She caught on and rubbed the animal's head happily.

"You'll probably be the only one to keep me company soon," she whispered as she finished patting his head. Happy, Ace ran out of the room. Mrs. Larkin then walked to her still dozing son and started to tousle his messy dark hair, allowing herself to remember days when he was a much smaller handful.

Flashback (to the EXTREME!)

Mrs. Larkin was sitting in a rocking chair on her front porch, reading a novel called The Great Gatsby. Her thoughts on the chapter she was reading were interrupted by what sounded like a small child crying. She looked up from her book and saw her 4-year-old son running up the steps, crying his eyes out. His dirty face was covered in small scratches and his light blue shirt was torn at the sleeve, revealing a large cut on his upper arm.

"Lincoln, honey!" she immediately put the book down and ran towards the sobbing child. The boy ran towards his mother and hugged her legs.

"Mama!" Link cried as he buried his face into her dress skirt. "I was at the park, like you let me go, and I was in the sandbox playing with this black girl when these bigger kids came and started to destroy our sandcastle we built together." He hiccupped a couple times before he continued. "I told them to stop, but they pushed me out of the sandbox and told me to never play with Negro children. I got up again, but they pushed me into those thorn bushes that you told me not to go near and it cut my arm."

"Oh honey," she picked up her child and cradled him in her arms. Link wrapped his small arms around her neck as he continued to cry.

"And then they started to kick and pull that girl's hair." Link said between his sobs. "Why would they do that, Mama? She wasn't mean or anything. I actually wanted to be her friend, Mama."

"Lincoln, listen to me," Mrs. Larkin sat down and placed Link on her lap, "the world is starting to become a scary place now, since the war has ended and all. Just like your father, you need to stay strong and fight through this hardship." She pulled a handkerchief out from her dress pocket and started to wipe the tears and dirt away from Link's face. "You can be friends with whomever you want to, sweetheart, and let nobody tell you otherwise. You understand, Lincoln?" Link looked up at her with his big blue eyes and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Yes Mama, I understand!" They hugged and once they let go, Link leapt off her lap and she stood up and held his hand.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up and sew your shirt back together," she smiled as the two went inside the house.

End Flashback (to the EXTREME!)

When she stopped messing with his hair, Link finally opened his eyes and turned to see who was touching him while she was napping.

"Hey Ma," Link greeted groggily as he got up and moved to sit at the edge of his bed before continuing, "You wanted something?"

"Not really," Mrs. Larkin replied as she sat next to him. "Link?"

"Yeah, Ma?"

"Remember, no matter where you go and what you do, you'll always be my little boy.

"Ahh Ma…" Link chuckled.

"I'm serious, Link. You're going to college next year and you know I'm going to worry about you every single day when you do go."

"Ma, you know I'll be fine. I have you guys, Tracy, and my friends with me to support me and everything."

"I know." She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug. "And you know that I love you."

"I know, Ma. I love you, too," Link said as he returned the embrace.

"But you know that if you screw your relationship up with Tracy, then I have no choice but to kill you."

"I know, Ma, I know."

Sooo, whatcha think? Nothing but drabble! GO ME! Review and whatnot, okay! In America!